Oats are considered to be one of the most nutritious breakfast options as they are among the healthiest grains on earth.
Oats, a whole grain that is gluten-free provide a source full of important fiber, vitamins, protein, minerals, and antioxidants.
A small bowl full of just 100 grams of oats can provide up to 389 calories of energy.
Along with this, oats help in science-backed benefits such as weight loss, low blood sugar, low risk of cardiac arrest or other heart diseases. This was just the tip of the iceberg.
Here are 9 super-healthy benefits that a small meal of oats can provide you daily.
Better Immunity
Oats are made up of beta-glucan which is a soluble fiber known to boost immunity.
The knights of our immune system, the white blood cells have special receptors that absorb beta-glucan.
Betaglucans also help in uprooting infections caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
A bowl full of Oatmeal also contains:
- Selenium
- Zinc
These elements are powerful enough to fight many infections and boost your immune system.
Overall, Oats give you the immune strength that you look for in organic veggies and expensive supplements at the fraction of the cost.
Weight loss
This is a primary benefit of having oatmeals as breakfast. Generally, it is a notion that you should have a heavy breakfast to start your day with filled-up energy levels.
Now heavy breakfast also means a rise in the number of calories consumed. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Oats, which are full of fiber, fill your belly quicker than other foods without cutting short the energy levels.
Moreover, Oats also manage a slow release of glucose in the blood which gives a sense of a filled tummy.
Reduces period cramps
It is known that oats are full of zinc and magnesium.
These nutrients can help you feel better before and during your period by reducing menstrual cramps and making your other period symptoms less intense.
Follow your menstrual cycle in period tracker to make sure oats are in your grocery list before getting those period symptoms!
Improves blood sugar
The beta-glucan in oats stimulates insulin response and can possibly reduce sugar levels too, in the long run.
According to research done on people with type 2 diabetes, oatmeal a day without added sugar actually benefited them and reduced their blood sugar levels to an extent.
The insulin sensitivity is impacted by the high fiber content in oatmeal, and it also tends to lower postprandial glucose levels.
Improved bone health
Oats even help in improving bone health. Rich in silicon, oats play a great role in skeletal health.
This is the reason why doctors recommend oats as a primary diet for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Oats also boost the absorption of calcium as they have important minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron.
Improved cholesterol level
Research has some evidence that oats also help in managing cholesterol levels. Beta glucan reduces total serum and LDL which is also known as bad cholesterol.
It reduces the dietary cholesterol in the intestine without affecting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Another study showed that people consuming more than 3 grams of beta-glucan a day, have seen a significant decrease in total cholesterol levels.
Great for the skin
Oats have great benefits for facial skin, dryness and skin tone. They are rich in pimple-fighting elements such as zinc.
And they also absorb excess oil from the skin. This is why they are a major part of acne treatments too.
They also help in lightening the skin tone and make for a perfect organic tanning solution.
Better digestive system
It is widely said that fiber is great for digestion. Oats being full of them, both soluble and insoluble axiomatically become a great food choice for digestion.
The soluble fiber travels through the gut cleaning it entirely and also increasing the time, the food stays in your intestines to be digested properly.
The insoluble fiber, in turn, helps the consolidation of the stool thereby being a wonderful treatment for constipation.
Better hair
Good hair is another unexpected health benefit, oatmeals tend to provide. Their ability to absorb oil treats itchy scalp and works as a great solution against dandruff.
Another unique ability of oats comes from their application in some areas. Ones who have hair fall can take advantage of oats by applying them to the affected area.
They tend to strengthen hair follicles thereby reducing hair damage.
You can check out Mornflake Porridge Oats for a variety of crispy whole grain oats that make for a delicious healthy breakfast.
Reduced risk of cancer
Oats also aid in reducing the risk of cancer. They are rich in lignans that help in fighting cancer-related disturbances.
According to research, whole grains lower your risk of colorectal cancer.
Free radicals can increase the chances of cancer in our bodies.
Oats are full of vitamin C and antioxidants. These two elements combat those radicals and reduce the chances of some types of cancer to quite an extent.
Final Words
Oats can easily replace your not-so-healthy breakfast providing high nutrition. It has everything, fiber, minerals, vitamins and so much.
In health benefits, there’s a long exhaustive list. Include oatmeal in your diet and you’ll benefit from the get-go.