OATS – THE WONDER GRAIN
Oats might not be the tastiest food on the planet, but this grain sure has some benefits that will make you want to put those apprehensions away and just gobble it!
1. Keep that Bad Cholesterol at bay…
Oats contain Beta-glucan. Studies show that beta-glucan is effective in reducing bad cholesterol. Beta-glucan works through increasing the amount excreted cholesterol-rich bile from the liver, thereby decreasing the amount of cholesterol that can block the blood vessels.
2. The sweet truth about Oats
Because oatmeal’s a good complex carb, it’s able to slow down the digestion of sugar.
The beta-glucans make sure sugars not absorbed too quickly by the body. This reduces blood sugar spikes and keeps your blood sugar levels stable. The fiber in oats helps to improve the metabolism of glucose. Both are good news for anyone looking to reduce their risk of diabetes and obesity.
3. Fight the Bloat with Oat!
Oats will make you feel full for longer period. Beta-glucan promotes the production of the hormone which signals your brains that you are full. Thus, you will not eat more food which can lead to losing weight.
4. Protein Power!
One serving of oatmeal has around 5 g of protein, which makes it pretty protein rich fora grain.But what’s even better is that you can use low-calorie oatmeal as a healthy base for other protein options.
5. Hearty Oats…
Oats have anti-oxidants that destroy free radicals and fights oxidative stress which contributes to the hardening of heart arteries. It also has lignans and beta-glucans that promotes a healthy heart and prevent from ischemic heart damage.
6. Immunity Booster
The beta-glucan found in oats helps in fighting infections from our body. It also has selenium and zinc, these are important nutrients that ward off infections and keep your body’s immunity in tip top shape.
7. Fiber High, Constipation Bye…
Oats are high in both types of fiber, soluble, and insoluble fiber, so you get the best of both worlds.
Insoluble fiber moves along our digestive tract, grabbing water from our intestines to add weight to waste material and ease its passing through our system and eventually out of our bodies.Soluble fiber turns into a gel-like consistency that slows digestion and makes us feel full. One key soluble fiber special to oats is beta-glucan, which slows down the food we eat so it takes our bodies longer to digest it. This means we feel fuller longer.
8. Oats is the secret of my energy!
Oats is both a slow-digesting carb and a protein-rich source of energy for your body. Oat is full of good carbs that keep your body feeling energized and alert.The sugars in oats digest and release slower than a simple carb such as processed, sugary cereal, so your energy level remains consistent.
9. Oats aid in hemoglobin formation
Hemoglobin is a protein present in red blood cells. Each serving of oats has iron that is important in hemoglobin formation. Low hemoglobin in blood may cause some health issues.
10. Oats – a true visionary…
Oats contain vitamin A that is essential in keeping our eyes in good shape. Vitamin A is made up of antioxidants compound that is vital to bone formation, immunity and vision. The cornea of our eyes is protected by vitamin A that keeps the viruses and bacteria from infecting our eyes. It can help in treating dry eyes and plays a role in decreasing macular degeneration that can cause vision loss according to a study.