If you have not included oats in your weekly meal plan, you definitely should. Oats are not only packed with nutrients and protein, they are also extremely versatile and delicious. Oats are a whole-grain food, commonly eaten in the form of porridge or cereal as a breakfast food. They’re also often included in muffins, granola bars, cookies, and other baked goods. With growing demand for oats in forms other than porridge, individuals have devised new methods to include them into their diet. Idlis, dosas, uttapams, biscuits, cakes, pies, and smoothies prepared with oats are becoming increasingly popular.
Full of nutrients and fiber, oats are one of the most nutritious whole-grain foods that a person can consume. While it is a carbohydrate, it is still extremely healthy and a well-balanced meal for your diet.
Here are some benefits of eating oats:
Oats are rich in antioxidants
Oatmeal contains high levels of avenanthramides, a type of antioxidant that exists almost exclusively in oats. They are extremely beneficial because they increase the production of nitric acid, helping to lower blood pressure. This ensures an improved blood flow and reduces inflammation. Additionally, they also reduce redness, itching and inflammation.
Oats are nutritious
Oats have a well-balanced nutritional content. They include plenty of carbohydrates and fiber. Oats are also a rich source of high-quality protein, with an adequate balance of important amino acids. Oats include vital vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant components. Dry oats contain manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc folate, vitamin B1, B23, and B5, making it an ideal dietary inclusion, providing all the necessary nutrients that you need for a healthy diet.
Oats are a good source of fiber
Oats have high levels of beta-glucan, a kind of soluble fiber. Beta-glucan partly dissolves in water, resulting in a thick, gel-like substance in your gut. The coating feeds good bacteria in the gut, which increases their growth rate and can contribute to a healthy gut. The fiber in oatmeal can help keep waste in the gastrointestinal tract moving, which can relieve or prevent constipation. It promotes a rise in the weight and water content of excreta. They also include insoluble fiber, which helps to consolidate stool, adds weight to it, regulates bowel movement, and reduces constipation.
Oats are great for skin-care
It’s no coincidence that oats are an ingredient in many skincare products like scrubs, exfoliants, face washes and masks. You can experience the benefits of eating oats for skin, because they reduce blemishes, dark spots, redness and inflammation. Additionally, colloidal oatmeal can be applied on the skin to moisturize, hydrate and can be used as a skin protective substance.
Oats help reduce hair loss
Oats also provide some surprising hair advantages. It soothes an irritated scalp and absorbs excess oil. Oats are also an effective treatment for dandruff. Learn more about home cures for dandruff. When applied to areas with hair loss, oats perform miracles by strengthening hair follicles and preventing hair damage. Oat masks moisturize and make the scalp smooth and lustrous, so you can enjoy the benefits of eating oats for hair, resulting in shiny, smooth hair.
Oats are a great choice for a snack or meal, to maintain a balanced diet, promote gut health, heart health, and even provide lustrous skin and hair. Choosing oats over other carb-heavy foods for a meal is a great option, because you can stay healthy and reap numerous other benefits. Enjoy oats in the form of sweet or savory meals with your favorite toppings, or even sprinkle some vegan protein power over it to keep your taste buds buzzing.