Numerous studies have shown that consuming oatmeal is beneficial for your health in various ways. Some of these advantages include losing weight, lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease, and having better control of your blood sugar. Whether it’s cooked with water, milk from a cow, or plant-based milk, oatmeal is a rather popular food eaten for breakfast. Oats are very healthy since they contain several essential nutrients and are high in fibre. Here, I’ll talk about how oatmeal may improve your health and provide details on its nutritional profile. The following are a few of the benefits:
Providing antioxidants for bodily function
The high level of antioxidants in oatmeal has been demonstrated to improve blood flow. Oatmeal has a significant number of antioxidants. More specifically, it contains polyphenols, a class of plant compounds prevalent in avenanthramides. Only oats contain the antioxidant avenanthramides in any appreciable quantity. Avenanthramides are useful because they promote the production of nitric acid, which lowers blood pressure.
- Improving circulation, which reduces swelling and irritation.
- Decreasing blood sugar levels and increasing insulin sensitivity
Oatmeal is rich in beta-glucan, a kind of soluble fibre that has been found to improve insulin sensitivity and, perhaps, blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetics who include oatmeal in their diet may find that it is less difficult to maintain a healthy blood sugar level, provided that they do not add any more sugar to the dish.
Reviewing the research on the health benefits of protein oats recipe, it was shown to have a positive effect on the management of blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Further research is needed, the authors say, to establish whether oatmeal is safe for those with type 1 diabetes.
Providing a wide range of essential nutrients
Oatmeal has a low calorie count while being packed with healthy components including fibre, protein, and iron. Incorporating into one’s diet foods that are low in calories but high in nutrients may aid in weight loss while still providing the body with the nutrients it needs, hence aiding in the maintenance of a healthy body weight.
Reducing cholesterol levels overall
Oatmeal consumption has been linked to reduced cholesterol levels. The beta-glucan in oatmeal has been shown to aid in raising healthy cholesterol levels, according to some research. Scientific investigations provide this supporting evidence. A 2014 review concluded that consuming at least 3 grammes (g) of beta-glucan daily may reduce total cholesterol levels in humans.
The research found that beta glucan reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), often known as “bad cholesterol,” without affecting levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind).
Boosting the Gut Microbiome to Improve Digestive Health
Oatmeal’s beta-glucan turns into a gel-like substance when mixed with water. This fluid forms a protective coating for the stomach and the remainder of the digestive tract.
Conclusion
The coating offers nourishment for the good bacteria already present in the digestive tract, which may hasten their growth and help to a healthy digestive system. The few study done on the issue found that oatmeal may have a favourable effect on the growth of microorganisms.
