The oat, sometimes called the common oat, is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name. While oats are suitable for human consumption as oatmeal and rolled oats, one of the most common uses is as livestock feed. Oatmeal refers, to a preparation of oats that have been dehusked, steamed and flattened, or else a coarse, flour made of hulled oat grains that have either been milled or steel-cut. Ground oats are also called “white oats”. Steel-cut oats are known as “coarse oatmeal”, “Irish oatmeal” or “pinhead oats”.
Let’s see what are the Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal….
Nutritious Values
They are a good source of carbs and fiber, including the powerful fiber beta-glucan They also contain more protein and fat than most grains
Oats are loaded with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidant plant compounds. Half a cup (78 grams) of dry oats contains
Oatmeal is high in several vitamins and minerals, including these:
Manganese.
Molybdenum.
Phosphorus.
Copper.
Biotin.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Whole Oats Are Rich in Antioxidants, Including Avenanthramides
Oats are known for a unique group of antioxidants reported among cereals known as avenanthramide (AVA) (Dimberg et al. 1993; Meydani 2009). There are abundant AVAs in oat, namely 2c, 2p & 2f, number 2 indicates 5 hydroxyanthranilic acid and letter c, p and f indicates the kind of hydroxylcinnamic acids as p-caumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids, respectively. Dimberg et al.
(1993) reported that AVAs have an antioxidant activity of 10–30 times greater than that of other phenolic antioxidants such as vanillin and caffeic acid. Preliminary studies indicated that the AVAs might possess anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic properties, since they inhibit monocyte adhesion to human aortic endothelial cells and are presumed to inhibit release of proinflammatory compounds from macrophages (Liu et al. 2004). They are also involved in controlling the blood pressure, as they produce nitric oxide which dilates the blood vessels (Nie et al. 2006).
Oats and coronary artery disease
A paper published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine in 2008, assessed a number of studies across more than a decade.
They found that eating foods rich in whole-oat sources of soluble fiber (oats, oat bran, and oat flour) may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Blood pressure
Conclusions: The addition of oat cereals to the normal diet of patients with hypertension significantly reduces both SBP and DBP. Soluble fiber-rich whole oats may be an effective dietary therapy in the prevention and adjunct treatment of hypertension.
Oats Make an Easy, Balanced Breakfast
Oatmeal is one of the most nutritious breakfast foods. It may help a person lose weight, reduce their risk of heart disease, and lower their blood sugar levels. It is best to choose varieties of oatmeal that are less processed and to limit added sugars.
Oats Help You Stay Full Longer
Oats are not only a delicious breakfast food but also very filling. Consuming filling foods may assist you in eating fewer calories and losing weight. The beta-glucan in oatmeal may increase your feeling of fullness by delaying the time it takes your stomach to empty of food. Beta-glucan may also stimulate the release of peptide YY (PYY), a hormone produced in the gut in response to food consumption. This satiety hormone has been linked to lower calorie intake and may lessen your risk of obesity.
Oats Help You Sleep Better
Why are oats considered a healthy pre-bedtime snack? According to experts, oats contain melatonin and complex carbohydrates that can help more tryptophan get into the brain and help you sleep. Furthermore, oats contain several vitamins, including B6, a co-factor that aids in serotonin production in the brain.
Oats Benefits For Skin
If you pay attention to the tags of a few of your lotions or face creams, you will most likely find oatmeal. Someone discovered the benefits of oats for dry, itchy, irritated skin at some point in history. Oat starch forms a barrier that allows the skin to retain moisture, while the rougher fibrous husk of the oat acts as a gentle exfoliant.
Oats soak up excess oil in your skin and help treat acne
Oats’ anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties treat dry skin and remove dead skin cells
Oats act as natural cleansers by removing dirt and oil and exfoliate the skin
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