Oatmeal claims to help reduce cholesterol, improve elimination (bowel movements), and overall is normally recognized as a health food.
There are many potential benefits of oatmeal with no real dangers (unless someone is allergic of course). One question a consumer may have is about what type of oats are best since there are so many options (rolled, steel-cut, quick, thick, etc.)…
Let’s begin with information on oatmeal in general.
Is oatmeal healthy?
Are your oats still healthy by the time you’re actually ready to eat them? One potential concern about oatmeal is what we do to it.
Additives and sugar
Of course, in this case, the added sugar and hormones from the animal products could potentially outweigh the benefits of the otherwise healthy oatmeal.
Microwaving
Another possible issue is the processing. Milling and steaming doesn’t seem to be any major issue, but more recently (likely for the sake of speed and ease) some companies are even microwaving the oats! [1]
We know that there are many ill-effects of microwaving food but perhaps one of the most significant is its damage to the mitochondria in the brain.[2]
Oatmeal is like salad… it can be healthy or total junk. When you’re working hard to make good choices, you don’t want to sabotage your efforts!
How to make oatmeal healthier
For the record, I am pro-oatmeal. It can be a great go-to meal, especially when you’re on the go and need something to pack that doesn’t take time. I almost always have oats in my travel bag that I can “just add water to” if I get stuck in an airport or something like that.
My desire is to help you know the best ways to sweeten, add flavor, and make it more filling or nutritious without overriding the goodness of it.
- Sweetening with fresh and/ or dried fruit is a great option, or perhaps a bit of honey or maple syrup would be much better than brown sugar or fake maple syrup.
- Adding some flaxseeds, chia seeds, chopped walnuts or pumpkin seeds would be a great way to add some healthy fat without harming the body.
- If you need extra protein (which most people don’t), you could even add some good quality protein powder.
If you have a health challenge and need support, call for more information about scheduling an initial consultation.
Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease. It does not take the place of a health care practitioner. It is for educational purposes only.
This article was originally published at New Hope Health Blog.