For breakfast, an American nutritionist recommends consuming oatmeal for several reasons. Find out which ones.
- In 1997, oatmeal became “the first food to make a health claim from the Food and Drug Administration.”
- Thanks to a type of soluble fiber, called “beta-glucan”, this food reduces blood glucose and cholesterol levels and promotes the presence of healthy intestinal bacteria.
- “The fiber and protein in oats help prolong the feeling of fullness.”
Enjoyed cold or hot, oatmeal has been popular with athletes for years. This food, nutritious and inexpensive, “made history by becoming, in 1997, the first food to make a health claim from the Food and Drug Administration.”
Oatmeal: what are the health benefits?
This product contains a type of soluble fiber, called beta-glucan, which lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Beta-glucan also promotes healthy gut bacteria. But that’s not all. According to Romi Londonnutritionist at the Mayo Clinic, an American university hospital and research federation, regular consumption of oatmeal can also be beneficial for weight management. “The fiber and protein in oats help prolong the feeling of fullness and slow the release of glucose into the blood. Oats are also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, copper, thiamine and zinc.”
“Know the different kinds of oats”
In stores, you can find steel-cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats and instant oats. “It is important to know the different kinds of oats”, according to the specialist.
What do we know about steel cut oats? Also called Irish rolled oats, whole oat kernels are cut into two or three pieces using steel discs. These least processed oats contain the highest amount of fiber. “They take longer to cook.” For oats rolled flat for easier cooking, most of the bran is removed. So they contain a little less fiber than oat flakes cut with steel discs.
“As for so-called quick oats, they are a variation of oat flakes which are rolled more finely and cut into small pieces, which further speeds up cooking. Finally, instant oats. These are the oat flakes oats found in single-use packets They are usually flavored and can be added to hot water or cooked in the microwave for a few minutes. Although instant oats cook faster, They generally contain more added sugar and less fiber than other types of oatmeal. explained Romi Londre.
