What most people know is that oatmeal is a rich source of fiber, some of which absorbs cholesterol away from your bloodstream. Eat oatmeal regularly, and your bad / "lousy" cholesterol level (LDL) will stay down. Besides the fiber, some of the compounds in oatmeal also help lower your cholesterol. So this is one reason: fiber, which keeps you regular and your arteries healthy. It also helps you lose weight.
Oatmeal also prevents sudden drops or spikes in your blood sugar, reduces high blood pressure, and decreases the risk of breast cancer. More research is done to see if it may prevent other types of cancer as well.
Oatmeal contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, and protein, as well as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Yes, you may not have realized this, but oats contain not only carbs, but also protein and fats. Some of those fats are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Yes, the famous omega-3, albeit in a small amount. If you thought only cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, etc.), nuts (walnuts, butternuts, and to a lesser extent peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, and other nuts) and certain seeds (flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.) were a source of omega-3 fatty acids, think again.
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Comments
Thanks, Veronica. Trout is a great fish to cook.
The good thing is that oats can be used for more than breakfast foo. Trout grilled with an oatmeal topping is really good. The oats cut the oil and protect the skin during grilling. Just mix with some water and lemon and put on top of skin of trout and grill. Simple, healthy delicious and a different texture too.
Thank you, Derdriu and Veronica. You reminded me to eat more oatmeal myself. I keep changing my diet and sometimes lose track of my healthy habits :). Derdriu: There are all sorts of niche cookbooks on the market. In English, I mean. And as for another Romanian cookbooks, it would be better if someone translated one that's already been published here. There are a few really good ones.
What an excellent and informative piece Mira. Thank you.
I hate breakfast cereal, always have. The only one I eat is oatmeal / porridge which I eat with dried apricots and dried cranberries.
I also use oatmeal as a crumble topping as a family dessert on top of stewed fruit.
The Omega info is especially useful. TY
Mira, Very nice! Oatmeal is a favorite of mine in cool weather. It keeps me healthy, hydrated and warm since I like mine runny with milk or with water. For some reason, I tend to favor blueberries and strawberries -- which are still around as my plucky, tiny-fruiting ground cover -- even though I will try your suggested cranberries since I love them too.
Have you thought of publishing a cook book?
Abby and Frank: I also get hungry soon after eating my oatmeal, but that's because I eat very little. I often combine it with both sugars and fats. Fruit is wonderful, and then you can add coconut milk, ground flaxseed, etc. for very good fats. You can also add cinnamon, or, as I have been doing lately, instant chicory, which is made from the root of a chicory plant. Chicory is very healthy. It was used as a substitute for coffee in Romania before 1989, and elsewhere during WWII. It doesn't contain caffeine but it does taste similar to coffee. For a sweet taste without the sugars you can try stevia, and so on.
Abby, that is an important point. I do feel hungry sometime after eating oatmeal products. I think, though, that the portions recommended on products are often too small. I think that we need to add sweeteners to the oatmeal to provide the necessary calories. When I was a child my mother gave us porridge, but she also supplied golden syrup, and we ate our porridge quite sweet, which for a little boys who were keen to run around was a necessity. I think that adding fruit to the oatmeal, such as bananas or dried apple, can provide the necessary sugars.
I like oatmeal, but I get hungry again an hour after I eat it. I guess I would get more vitamins if I ate more!
Not a lot, but some. I love oatmeal. Also love that it's cheap and easy to prepare :)
I didn't know all these things about oatmeal and I had no idea it contained good fats.