Benefits of Oatmeal; Healthy Recipes: Why Make Oats A Part of Your Regular Diet

oats benefits

Health benefit of oats are aplenty. It is the foremost reason for its adoption as a popular cereal grain these days.

Do you know the first evidence of adoption of oats has been traced to a cave in Switzerland (belongs to around 3000 BC)?

History of Oats
If you think oatmeal recipes are getting popular these days, then you might be wrong.

Oat is the most popular food in Scotland and also widely used in England. When the English came to India and settled here, they began cultivation of oats. Though the first mention of oats is found in Ain-e-Akbari of Abul Fazal (around 1590), their real adoption began with British promotion after 1816, when they captured vast areas Uttarakhand. However, this was limited to the consumption of the British army only.

Hari Singh of Kashmir ordered special oat seeds from England in the 1930s and began their cultivation in royal farms. After independence, the state govt of Kashmir promoted oats and local farmers began cultivating it. Gradually, it spread to Himachal and also provided a new fillip to its reemergence in Uttarakhand.

Benefits of Oatmeal

oatsbenefits

• High in carbohydrate, protein and dietary fiber. An intake of about 20 gm dietary fiber lessens the chance of coronary heart problem by 12 percent and cardiovascular disorder by 10 percent.
• Beta-glucan in oats lower cholesterol. According to studies, just 3 gms of oats per day can reduce cholesterol by 10 to 20 percent.
• By reducing 10 to 20 percent cholesterol, oats effect about 20 to 40 percent reduction in heart attack risk.
• Avenanthramides, an antioxidant in oats, fights off free radicals in our body. Free radicals attack good cholesterol (HDL) in the body.  A diet rich in oats negates the damaging effects of free radicals and thus prevents damaging LDL cholesterol oxidation. This purifies arterial wall cells, preventing atherosclerosis.
• Oats suppress certain protein molecules and cytokines that obstruct inflammatory response in the body.
• Whole grain oats help reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart failure, according to a study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine in October 2007.
• Postmenopausal women with cardiovascular problems must eat oats at least six times a week to counter atherosclerosis and stenosis.
• Oat strengthens immune system against bacterial infection, as it empowers faster movement of neutrophils.
• Oats also stabilize/ reduce blood sugar and are most beneficial for those with Type 2 diabetes. Minerals, especially, magnesium in oats helps enzymes responsible for increase in insulin secretion and sugar synthesis.
• Oats are found to be helpful in protecting women against breast cancer due to high dietary fiber component. Those eating 30 grams of dietary fiber daily, are almost at 50 percent lower risk of breast cancer.

Wondering whether oats contain gluten? Click  here why oatmeal is gluten free. There are innumerable ways to include oats in your regular diet. Here are 45+ oatmeal healthy recipes that you may want to try.

If you are wondering how to cook oatmeal, we have very simple ideas for you. Make oatmeal healthy recipes and include this fiber-rich cereal grain in your daily diet. We have made oats idli, oats dhokla, oats cookies, and oats chapatis (Indian flat bread).