Because diet is so important for overall health, making eating porridge a habit is surely the only way to help. However, you may have heard opinions where the positive effects of oats have been exaggerated, claiming that it is for the prevention of heart disease or cancer. But, when it comes to marketing somewhere, it’s always better to track down the facts yourself. Are oats really good for you?
On the one hand, oats are a perfect example of a healthy whole grain product. It offers balanced nutrition, more fiber and antioxidants. And it contains more protein and healthy fats than any other whole grain product.
One serving of oatmeal contains 51 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber and 5 grams of fat. All this, plus a significant amount of vitamins and minerals, in just 303 calories.
But what really happens when you eat oatmeal every day? Read on to find out if oatmeal lives up to your expectations.
Antioxidants are important because they can bind to harmful free radicals traveling through the body and neutralize them. There are many different types of antioxidants, but oats are rich in a type called polyphenols. More specifically, oats contain a type of polyphenol called avenanthramide. This substance is practically only found in oats.Avenanthramides are believed to lower blood pressure because they increase the production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is responsible for dilating blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow. As with most antioxidants, avenanthramides have anti-inflammatory effects. What is not common, however, is that they have the ability to relieve itching.
