Feeling Your Oats
The benefits of oatmeal go beyond a satisfying breakfast that keeps you full until lunch. Now recent studies suggest that eating oatmeal can:
- Reduce health risks. Oatmeal is a whole grain, and eating whole grains can lower the risk for diseases like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Oatmeal also contains lignans, a plant chemical that has been found to prevent heart disease.
- Help with weight loss. The fiber in oatmeal leads to a feeling of a fuller stomach — making you less likely to go for that mid-morning high fat, high sugar treat.
- Make LDL “bad” cholesterol particles less susceptible to oxidation. Oxidation may lead to hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis. It results from plaque buildup that narrows stiffens arteries, making blood harder to flow. Clots can then form, or pieces of plaque can break off — resulting in heart attacks or stroke.
- The magnesium in oatmeal helps your body properly secrete insulin.
So go for a healthy breakfast with whole grain oatmeal, such as the Irish oatmeal we include in our healthy heart basket. Stay away from the sugary instant versions, and add cranberries or blueberries for just the right touch of sweetness — and have a healthy day!
