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6 Health Benefits You Need to Know About Eating Oats

Oats are a cereal grain commonly eaten in the form of oatmeal or rolled oats. According to some research, they may offer a range of potential health benefits.

Oats are often consumed as porridge or used as an ingredient in breakfast cereals and baked goods (such as oatcakes, oat cookies, and oat bread). This is why they have recently become a trendy “health food.”

Here are six health benefits of eating oats:

1. Protects From Heart Disease

Oats do not contain cholesterol. Furthermore, they are also a source of soluble fibre. 

Consuming soluble fibre may help protect heart health by reducing harmful cholesterol levels. Oats also contain a substance called beta-glucan, which has been found to lower blood cholesterol levels. 

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers found that eating 3 grams of soluble fibre from oats for 16 weeks significantly reduced LDL cholesterol levels.

In addition, the study participants also experienced other health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels, weight loss, and lower triglycerides.

2.Reduces Risk of Diabetes

Oats are a low-glycemic food, meaning their sugar content is absorbed slowly by the body. This means they may help prevent blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after a meal, a phenomenon known as “post-meal hyperglycemia.” 

Eating oats may also help reduce your risk of developing type-2 diabetes. According to a 2013 report published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, “Wheat, barley and rye contain a range of unique proteins with properties that may improve blood glucose control and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.”

3. Helps Maintain Healthy Body Weight

Eating oats may help you to maintain healthy body weight. This is because they contain fewer calories than “normal” carbohydrate-rich foods such as potatoes, pasta and white bread.

Furthermore, oats also contain soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps you feel fuller for longer. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, consuming oats as part of a weight-loss diet increases feelings of fullness. It lowers levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin.

4. Helps Fight against Prostate Cancer

Oats contain a compound known as avenanthramide (Avena). Prostate cancer cells are inhibited by this chemical, which has been explored for its possible use as cancer therapy. 

According to a recent study, avenanthramide may be particularly beneficial in preventing prostate cancer.

5. Reduces Blood Pressure

According to a European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, “Oats can lower blood pressure by inhibiting an enzyme involved in the formation of nitric oxide, which plays a key role in vasorelaxation and the regulation of blood pressure.”

It is important to note that, before adding oats to your diet, you should first seek your doctor’s advice. Oats are not suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

6. May Help Improve Skin and Hair Health

Oats contain saponins, which can cleanse and remove dead skin cells.

Saponins are also known to help remove dandruff. A 2003 study published in the journal Dermatologica found that applying saponins to the scalp significantly reduced the amount of dandruff.

Furthermore, oats contain a high concentration of vitamin E. This is a powerful antioxidant, which may help to prevent damage to the skin by free radicals – molecules that are thought to contribute to the aging process.

They also contain a variety of B vitamins essential for healthy hair.

Conclusion

Oats are more than just another cereal grain to be enjoyed as a breakfast cereal. They have several potential health benefits, many of which are related to their low calorie, high fibre content and their ability to slow the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed. All in all, eating oats may be an excellent way to enhance your health and well-being.

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