The heartiness of a warm bowl of delicious oatmeal offers lots of comfort. But unlike most comfort foods, eating oats to appease your emotions actually leads you to a healthier diet.
That being said, here are the benefits of starting your day with a hearty meal. of oats.
Oatmeal helps in managing weight
You will help regulate weight by beginning your day with oatmeal for a few reasons. Oatmeal induces satiety, the sense of completeness after feeding. Scientists fed participants similar quantities of oatmeal and oranges in a 2016 study published in the Appetite journal. People reported hungered and less relaxed after consuming oranges than they did after a bowl of oatmeal. Such fullness can encourage a healthy weight by reducing intake later in the day, naturally.
Oatmeal is rich in fiber
According to a 2018 study published in the Polish journal Annals of the National Institute of Hygienics, a form of fiber contained in oats known as beta-glucan was shown to promote a healthy immune function and to minimize cholesterol and blood sugar levels, to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Beta-glucan also serves as an antioxidant and is related to resistance from artery hardening, neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's and carcinoma.
Beta-glucan also acts as a prebiotic, a compound that promotes the production of healthy gut microbes while also delaying or stopping harmful bacteria from spreading. Beta-glucan helps the digestive tract as a fiber, which helps reduce inflammation of the gut.
Oatmeal is a good source of antioxidants
According to a 2018 report in Food Research International, oats contain compounds called polyphenols that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polyphenols help to decrease oxidative stress on the body - they help restrict damaging molecules called free radicals. For this reason, a 2017 report in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity indicates that polyphenols are related to defense against heart disease and stroke, as well as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Oatmeal is loaded with nutrients
A half-cup of dry oats provides 4 g of filling fiber and 14% of the recommended daily target plus 5 g of herbal protein. Carbohydrates of the grain are often packed with a broad vitamin and mineral range including B vitamins, selenium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and smaller quantities of potassium and calcium. It is an amazing variety for a single meal which is also economical, easy to cook, and versatile.
The old adage 'breakfast is the most important meal of the day' is even truer when your starter meal involves whole foods with practical benefits, and oatmeal is a superior choice!
