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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you’ve probably heard that before.
However, if you have oatmeal for breakfast every day, your body will gain several extra health benefits from it.
What oat flakes contain and what they are good for
Oat flakes can without exaggeration be considered a small nutritional bomb that can significantly improve your health.
People have been growing and consuming them for over 200 years and besides satisfying hunger they often served as a remedy in folk medicine. They affect, for example, intestinal diseases, nerve conditions, skin problems, urinary tract diseases and many others.
If you include oatmeal in your breakfast, you will gain even more benefits. If you suffer from gout (accumulation of uric acid in the joints), their consumption will bring you significant relief from pain.
Oat flakes are rich in antioxidants such as the trace element selenium important for immunity, vitamin E, phenolic acid, phytic acid, and tocotrienols.
In addition, they also contain large amounts of phosphorus, biotin, vitamin B1, molybdenum, copper and magnesium.
Among macronutrients they have a high proportion of proteins. In one 2 dcl glass of flakes there are up to 13 grams of quality protein and up to double the recommended daily dose of manganese.
What eating oat flakes will do for your body
Oat flakes have a low glycemic index. Their regular consumption therefore prevents weight gain and the development of obesity.
They provide a feeling of satiety and at the same time are a good gradually releasing source of energy for the body. That means that calories from them do not convert into fat and there are no sharp fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
Diabetics will especially appreciate this property, as they help regulate insulin use.
Consuming flakes can reduce total daily calorie intake by up to half, because they supply energy gradually and stave off the feeling of hunger.
Scientists studied consumption of foods with low and high glycemic index on later calorie intake during the day. They concluded that oat flakes prevented people from overeating and excessive food intake even during lunches or dinners.
If a person feels full during the day because they had oat flakes for breakfast, it helps them lose extra pounds and body fat.
In addition, oat flakes have the following health benefits:
- are a safe alternative for people with celiac disease and those who avoid gluten (oat flakes contain less gluten and there are also types that contain none at all)
- have a high fiber content and support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and thus healthy digestion
- reduce the risk of developing breast cancer
- increase immune response
- prolong life
- lower blood cholesterol levels
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
- reduce the risk of heart attack
- in childhood they prevent the development of asthma
How to consume oat flakes
Oat flakes can be consumed in several ways.
The most common is mixing them with milk or yogurt. Although this method is not entirely bad, it is also not the happiest choice, because milk and flakes are foods that digest differently and therefore should not be mixed.
A better way is to soak them in water and flavor them with honey, dried fruit, cinnamon or lemon juice. Alternatively, use a combination of the mentioned ingredients.
It is also possible to make porridge from them (English porridge), however heat treatment destroys some beneficial vitamins in them. Therefore, the less cooking, the better.
