Yahoo Lifestyle Superfood: Oats
What are oats?
Oats are a grain that are best known as rolled oats for porridge, but can also be milled into flour to create oat flour. Oats are a great source of soluble fibre and are commonly found in breakfast foods such as muesli (which is made up of around 50 per cent of oats) and muesli bars (which have around 25 per cent of oats). Rolled oats are also a versatile baking ingredient; they’re often used in biscuits, crumble toppings, puddings and cakes.
What is soluble fibre?
There are two types of dietary fibres – soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre or ‘bulking fibre’ dissolves in water, whereas insoluble fibre doesn’t.
What are the health benefits of oats?
As oats are rich in soluble fibre, they’re great at absorbing water as they pass through the digestive system. This slows down gastric emptying which can help promote satiety, or a feeling of fullness. Their fibre also contains beta-glucans that help to reduce blood cholesterol in some people.
A powerhouse of nutrients, oats contain healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats, have double the calcium of other grains, and are a good source of B vitamins as well as vitamin E. They have one of the highest protein contents and virtually no sodium, making them a filling, nutritious and delicious start to your day.
