Why is oatmeal so healthy and can it cause harm?

11.05.2023 06:50

It has long been no secret that oatmeal has taken a place of honor among dietary foods.

Many people add it to their diet for weight loss purposes or as a quick and convenient way to prepare breakfast.

The porridge is quite nutritious and can increase energy and improve mood due to its vitamin B6 content.

In addition, the flakes contain carotene, vitamins A, thiamine, tocopherol and riboflavin. It also contains trace elements such as fluorine, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, chromium, and iodine.

The high fiber content helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and the enveloping properties of oatmeal facilitate digestion.

Oat flakes
Photo: © Belnovosti

The main benefit of this cereal is that it contains gluten (sticky protein), which reduces the level of harmful cholesterol and sugar, which helps improve the condition of the cardiovascular system.

For those who want to eat oatmeal for breakfast, you should know that in its pure form it is not very healthy. Despite the great benefits, it does not contain enough protein, which our body needs especially in the morning.

Here it will be good to combine with such products as cheese, boiled egg, omelet. It is better to transfer the consumption of oatmeal to the second half of the day, especially before training.

The feeling of hunger will not bother you for a long time, and there are few calories. Plus, complex carbohydrates are absorbed much faster if you use physical exercise.

Oatmeal can be harmful for people suffering from osteoporosis (decreased bone strength), with a violation of mineral metabolism. Phytic acid, which is contained in cereals, binds cations of iron, magnesium, calcium and they are almost not absorbed.

To reduce the phytic acid content, nutritionists recommend soaking the cereal overnight. And before eating, add yogurt or a spoonful of lemon juice. Lactic and citric acids neutralize phytic acid a little.

People with the above-mentioned ailments should remember that daily consumption can wash calcium out of the body, which will become a real health problem. For variety in nutrition, 2-3 times a week is quite enough.

Those who have gluten intolerance should also exclude oatmeal from their diet. In all other cases, oatmeal is a very healthy dietary porridge.

Igor Zur Author: Igor Zur Internet resource editor