Oats: an overview
Oats are a crop of Mediterranean origin, now no longer as vintage as wheat and barley, however their domestication dates back to historic times. Oats rank around 6th in the arena cereal production records following wheat, maize, rice, barley and sorghum.
In many elements of the arena oats are grown to be used as grain, in addition to for forage and fodder both as green chaff, hay and straw. Oats nonetheless continue to be a vital grain crop for human beings in marginal ecologies throughout the growing world, and in evolved economies for specialised uses. Oat grains are an amazing supply of protein, fibre, and minerals.1
Avena sativa:
Known as oat, groats, haber, hafer, avena, straw, oatmeal, its own circle of relatives poaceae, genus. Avena originated from European countries.
Avena is a spinoff of the Sanskrit word “avi,” which means “avasa”, or “sheep” is the denotation of “foodstuff.” 2
Oats have earned the identity of a “Super Grain” due to the fitness advantages they provide. In addition to soluble fibre, polyphenols & avenanthramides (antioxidants), oats and oat merchandise have many bioactive compounds which could provide fitness advantages.3
Types of oats
All oats begin as oat groats, and the simplest distinction lies in their processing that alters its taste, texture and cooking time. The famous kinds of oats are:
Instant oats
Also referred to as short oats, spontaneous oats prepare so well & instantly. These oats are precooked, dried, rolled and pressed to shape skinny flakes.
Rolled oats
Similar to the spontaneous oats in phrases of processing, Rolled oats are traditional old school oats. They are steamed and pressed, but now no longer precooked. They commonly require an extended time to prepare and feature a thicker texture.
Steel-reduce oats
Steel-reduce oats are created with the aid of slicing the oat groat into tiny pieces. These oats have a chewy texture. They undergo minimum processing and aren't steamed or flattened, hence they take the longest time to prepare.4
Benefits of oats for weight loss
Oats are one of the healthiest grains available to us. When used properly or consuming the right types of oats, you can get many benefits from oats and it helps in your weight loss diet plans and recipes.
If you're looking to add healthier ingredients to your diet, especially if you're trying to lose weight, add more oats for weight loss, along with all the other fitness benefits for you and the whole family.
Are oats good for weight loss?
Oats are one of the healthiest grains containing almost all the vitamins your body needs on a daily basis. In addition to being highly nutritious, they also contain very high amounts of soluble fibre.
Soluble fibre is a type of fibre found in ingredients that absorbs water and forms a gel-like consistency. This can help lower cholesterol levels. As a result, manipulating healthy insulin levels and maintaining a healthy weight can be important, especially for people who have or already have diabetes.
Benefits of Oats for weight Loss
If you're on a weight reduction journey, oats for weight reduction may be a brilliant beginning to the day.
Rich in fibre
Beta-glucan fibre, which is so abundant in oats, attracts water from your diet.
It then increases the viscosity of food and increases its volume in the digestive tract.
As a result, the digestive process slows down, and so does the rate at which your body digests the nutrients from the food you eat.
This makes you feel fuller and keeps you feeling fuller for longer. This means that you will feel less urge to snack, and your hunger and eating behaviour will be better coordinated.
Boosts your digestive fitness
Eating oats for weight loss is also a great way to improve overall digestive health.
The high fibre content of oats can help improve and regulate daily digestion and properly regulate bowel movements to prevent constipation and a sedentary lifestyle.
Oats help increase the water content and weight of your stool, making it easier for your body to expel waste products from your normal routine.
When the dietary fibre beta-glucan is broken down and fermented in the body, it also helps increase the diversity of the gut bacteria known as the gut microbiome, which protects the gut and improves its function.
Keeps you feeling full for a longer time period
Oatmeal recipes are especially helpful when looking for oatmeal for weight loss.
This helps you avoid unnecessary hunger between meals and eliminates the need to eat unhealthy foods when you suddenly feel hungry.
As a result, you take in fewer calories than you burn.
One of the most important things to consider when trying to lose weight is that you should eat fewer calories and burn more calories than you eat.
Oats are very low in calories, making them a great food choice for weight loss.
Recipes with oats for weight loss
If you're trying to make oatmeal specifically for weight loss recipes, see if steel cut or rolled oats are available.
If you can't find it easily at your local store, you can look it up online or ask your grocery store if they can arrange it. Please check the contents before purchasing to make sure there is no added sugar.
Best time to eat oats for weight reduction
Oats are a healthy grain that you can eat anytime.
Eating oatmeal for breakfast gives you all the energy for the day from the various nutrients in oatmeal.
It also keeps you feeling full throughout the day, so you don't have to grab unhealthy snacks or premature cravings throughout the day.
Types of oats for weight reduction
One of the most important things to remember is that not all types of oats or oatmeal are created equal and not all types have the same results.
You may have seen many different types of oats that are readily available in supermarkets and stores. If you need oats for weight loss, these may not provide all the nutrients and oat benefits you're looking for.
Try looking for oatmeal or oatmeal varieties. It may take a little longer to prepare, but it's packed with all the nutrients and oatmeal goodness you're looking for in your weight loss journey.
Other health benefits of oats
Consuming oats in our daily diet is becoming increasingly popular as part of a healthy diet as it provides a variety of important health benefits. Oat grain is packed with nutrients and provides valuable health benefits. Oat bran is a valuable source of β-glucan and is said to be effective in lowering plasma cholesterol and postprandial serum glucose levels, and also helps reduce the risk of coronary artery disease.
The FDA requires a recommended daily intake of oat beta-glucan for health effects of 3 g/day, or 0.75% per serving. Oats have been reported to have numerous beneficial effects in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, infections and cardiovascular disease.
Some of the health-enhancing properties of oats are detailed below.
1. Cholesterol and Oats
Oats are an important source of dietary fibre (both soluble and insoluble) and other important nutrients essential to the human body. One component of the soluble fibre found in oats is beta-glucan, which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. Consumption of oat β-glucan can lower total blood and cholesterol levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL). A key mechanism proposed is that dietary oat β-glucan forms a viscous layer in the small intestine. The viscous layer attenuates the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol and the reabsorption of bile acids (which the body makes from cholesterol). Less cholesterol is absorbed from the intestine and more endogenous cholesterol is used to make bile acids, resulting in lower levels of cholesterol circulating in the blood. It can lower plasma and LDL cholesterol levels by 5-10% respectively. A new study also found that antioxidants found in oats lower cholesterol by reducing the ability of blood cells to adhere to the inside of artery walls.
2. Diabetes and Oats
Beta-glucans in oats also have positive effects on diabetes and blood sugar levels. Giving diabetics foods rich in oat fibre causes a much smaller rise in blood sugar levels. Controlling blood sugar and insulin levels is important to prevent many problems associated with diabetes. Beta-glucan in oats slows the rise in blood sugar after meals and slows the fall to pre-meal blood sugar levels and increases the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine. This slows down digestion and lengthens the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This avoids drastic changes in blood sugar levels.
3. Cancer and Oats
Oats contain hundreds of phytochemicals that may reduce your risk of cancer. Many cancer-related organisations have recommended oatmeal as a beneficial part of a healthy diet and can help reduce the risk of cancer. The vitamins and minerals in oats fight against cancer cells in the body. A Harvard study found that eating oats reduces the number of polyps in colon cancer patients. Insoluble dietary fibre found in oats is also believed to reduce carcinogens in the gastrointestinal tract.
4. Blood Pressure and Oats
Oats also help maintain blood pressure in the host. Consuming soluble fibre from oats may lower high blood pressure or hypertension. Oats promote healthy blood pressure by improving blood sugar and insulin profiles. Adding oat cereals to the regular diet of individuals suffering from hypertension significantly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Water-soluble, high-fibre whole grain oats are effective in preventing and treating hypertension.
5. Oats Improve Bowel Function
Oats are rich in fibre, which is necessary to keep bowel movements regular. Oats are rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. Insoluble fibres do not dissolve in water, but are spongy and absorb many times their own weight in liquid. This insoluble fibre thickens stools, speeds up their passage through the intestines, and relieves constipation.
6. General Health and Longevity
Oats contain a higher concentration of balanced protein than other grains and a good balance of essential fatty acids associated with longevity and general health. Oats contain phytochemicals associated with protection against chronic diseases such as cancer. Oats also contain the best amino acid profile of any grain. These amino acids are essential proteins that help your body function optimally. Beta-glucan in oats also appears to help speed up the delayed response to infection, which may speed up healing.6
Nutritional facts
Oat grout or entire grain (after elimination of hull) comprise all 3 elements of the grain – the germ, endosperm and bran.. In evaluation of different cereals, oats are characterised with a true quantity of overall protein, carbohydrate, crude fat, nutritional fibre (non-starch), specific antioxidants and giant nutrients and mineral content material. Total carbohydrate content material (which includes cellulose and non-starch polysaccharides) may also attain 75-80% of the dry matter. The predominant carbohydrate of oat is starch and its content material relies upon at the range and developing conditions.
Oats comprise an excessive percent of protein and a balanced composition of amino acids which has a rather nutritive cost in evaluation to different cereals.
Phenol compounds found in oats have a giant antioxidant potential. Biologically, the maximum critical metabolically energetic proteins of oats are the enzymes. Oats are a very good supply of vital unsaturated fatty acids. The percent varies depending upon the species. Triglycerides represent the principal component of lipids and phospholipids, glycolipids, sterols also are found in large quantities.3
Side effects and other concerns
Oats are completely organic, gluten-free grain with no significant side effects. However, it is always recommended to take some general precautions.
You can always do a quick patch test to see how your body reacts to oats and if you have any allergies.
In general, it's a good idea to consult your doctor before adding anything new to your diet or lifestyle.
When choosing instant oatmeal, read the label carefully in case it contains ingredients you may be allergic to or should not be consumed for health reasons. Oats are safe for children and toddlers.7
Summary
Eating moderate amounts of oats along with healthy foods can help you lose weight by keeping you feeling fuller for longer and helping your digestive system work better.
As with a healthy lifestyle and eating plan, we also recommend some form of exercise every day to help increase the number of calories you burn and keep your body in good shape.
So make oatmeal a part of your diet to shed those extra pounds and keep fit.
Stay healthy and happy!
References
- Kumar, Mathan. (2012). Oats and health benefits.
- Ramzan S. Oat: a novel therapeutic ingredient for food applications. J microb biotech food sci [Internet]. 2020 Feb 3 [cited 2022 Dec 13];9(4):756–60. Available from: https://office2.jmbfs.org/index.php/JMBFS/article/view/8986
- Khanna, Preeti. (2016). Oats : Understanding Science. International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition.
- 12 Amazing health benefits of oats and its side effects [Internet]. Lybrate. [cited 2023 Jan 2]. Available from: https://www.lybrate.com/topic/oats-health-benefits
- 5 healthy oats recipes for weight loss and their benefits [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2023 Jan 3]. Available from: https://www.fitterfly.com/blog/oats-for-weight-loss/
- Bulletin of environment, pharmacology and life sciences [Internet]. [cited 2023 Jan 3]. Available from: https://bepls.com/
- Rasane P, Jha A, Sabikhi L, Kumar A, Unnikrishnan VS. Nutritional advantages of oats and opportunities for its processing as value added foods - a review. J Food Sci Technol [Internet]. 2015 Feb [cited 2022 Dec 22];52(2):662–75. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13197-013-1072-1