What are oat cereals and what are their benefits?

Oatmeal is a staple of a healthy diet. It saturates the body with useful components and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Many people traditionally eat this porridge for breakfast. When used correctly, it brings invaluable health benefits. It’s not for nothing that doctors advise including oatmeal in the diet after serious illnesses to restore the body.

What is oatmeal

Oatmeal refers to a product obtained from the processing of cereals - oats. This is a valuable food and feed crop. Oats are also used to make oatmeal flour.

Oatmeal is a generalized name for porridge made from oatmeal in everyday life. It is easily digestible and has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole.

What grains are obtained from oats?

In the process of processing oats, several types of cereals are obtained. The most common oatmeal on store shelves is crushed and uncrushed oatmeal, as well as cereal "Hercules».

Uncrushed

Made from whole oats, divided into premium, first and second grade.

During the production process, the grains are heated, steamed and dried. After processing, they are lightly sanded.

Whole grains retain a maximum of useful components and are recommended for sports and diet menus.

Cooking takes 40-50 minutes. The finished porridge retains its rough structure. Not recommended for children under three years of age.

Crushed

Crushed cereal is produced by grinding whole grains.

After sorting and washing, they are steamed at 100°C for several hours. Cooking takes on average 40 minutes.

Cereals "Hercules"

The cereal is familiar to many from childhood. Their advantages are high nutritional value and quick preparation. During the production process, oat grains are steamed, separated from the germ, hulled and flattened. The cereal is then passed through rollers and turns into flakes. Preparing cereal porridge takes on average 20 minutes.

The benefits and harms of oatmeal for the human body

Cereals contain vitamins A, E, K, group B, as well as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc. It is rich in vegetable protein and fiber. Doctors advise introducing oatmeal into the diet for problems with the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, peptic ulcers, flatulence. It envelops the walls of the stomach with a protective film and reduces the acidity of gastric juice.

Nutritional value of 100 g of product:

• proteins - 12.3 g;
• fats - 6.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 59.5 g;
• fiber - 10.6 g.

100 g of oatmeal contains about 345 kcal.

Oat dishes are recommended for nervous exhaustion, constant stress, and sleep disturbances. This is a must-have product for athletes interested in gaining muscle mass.

Useful properties of oats:

• strengthens the immune system;
• reduces blood sugar levels;
• improves memory;
• strengthens bone tissue;
• stabilizes the functioning of the nervous system;
• speeds up metabolism;
• cleanses the intestines.

For weight loss

Cereals contain complex, slowly digestible carbohydrates. Therefore, a plate of oatmeal for breakfast relieves hunger for 3-5 hours. In this case, the calorie content of 100 g of the finished dish will be about 88-100 kcal.

But to lose weight, you need to cook porridge strictly in water or skim milk.Then the calorie content will be within 120 kcal per 100 g of finished product. It is highly undesirable to add salt, sugar, butter. To improve the taste, you can cut an apple or throw in a handful of dried fruits.

Advice! You can add grated or dried ginger root to the finished porridge - it speeds up metabolism and weight loss faster.

For the intestines

Oatmeal contains a large amount of fiber, which stimulates peristalsis and promotes bowel movements. People suffering from chronic constipation are recommended to consume oatmeal jelly.

With regular consumption of oatmeal, waste and toxins are removed from the body. This is especially important for those who live in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions.

For the liver

An unhealthy liver is a danger to the entire body. The blood is not cleared of toxins, which results in poor health, deterioration of skin condition, and decreased performance. The ability of oatmeal to remove harmful substances will help the body. For medicinal purposes, it is recommended to use whole oats.

The simplest remedy is oatmeal broth. Pour 2 liters of boiling water over a glass of whole grains, cook for 5-7 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 2 hours. Cool and leave for 12 hours. Take a glass twice a day before meals.

Attention! Treatment of the liver should be carried out under the supervision of a physician. And oats can be used as an addition to the main therapy.

For cholesterol

Eating oatmeal is recommended for people with high cholesterol levels; it is included in the therapeutic diet menu for atherosclerosis. Cereals contain fiber, which is involved in the breakdown and elimination of harmful cholesterol.

Introducing oatmeal into the diet lowers cholesterol levels by 10-15%.Regular consumption of cereal helps dissolve cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.

Important! For these purposes, you cannot cook porridge with milk - it contains harmful fats. And so that the dish does not seem tasteless, add berries, nuts, and sour apples.

From pressure

The flakes contain avenanthramides - special substances that prevent cholesterol from settling on the walls of blood vessels.. The regular presence of oatmeal in the diet lowers blood pressure and is considered a high-quality prevention of atherosclerosis.

Doctors recommend that people with chronic hypertension start their morning with a serving of oatmeal. You can prepare it in different ways. If you are overweight and have gastrointestinal problems, you should stick to the dietary option with water. If you don’t have a goal to lose weight, you can cook cereal in milk with butter, sugar, and dried fruits.

For acne

Oatmeal is often called “beauty porridge.” This is not only a healthy breakfast, but also an effective cosmetic product. An oatmeal mask is an effective and affordable way to get rid of pimples and acne. It has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, moisturizes and nourishes the skin.

Recipes for making an anti-acne mask:

• 2 tbsp. l. cereal, 1 tbsp. l. fat sour cream and apple cider vinegar. Mix everything, apply for 20 minutes, rinse. The mask eliminates oily shine, cleanses pores, and tones the skin.
• 2 tbsp. l. Mix oatmeal with water and leave to swell for 30 minutes. Add one ampoule of vitamin A and C. Apply a thick layer for 25 minutes, rinse with warm water.
• A mask with a cleansing and whitening effect - mix one part of flakes and two parts of kefir, let the mixture swell. Apply for 15 minutes, rinse without additional products.

Before preparing the mask, the flakes are ground in a coffee grinder.

For edema

A decoction of oatmeal helps in the fight against edema. For 1 tbsp. you will need 4 tbsp of cereal. water. Place the mixture on the fire and boil for 10 minutes. Add a spoonful of honey and boil for another 5 minutes. Consume small portions throughout the day.

Benefits for women

Oats are a valuable product for the female body. Cereals contain antioxidants that reduce the risk of breast cancer. Phytoestrogens normalize hormonal levels and prevent gynecological diseases. Therefore, consuming oatmeal is especially important for women with menstrual disorders.

Harm and contraindications

Oatmeal is a valuable and healthy product if taken in moderation. The best option is to use it 3-4 times a week.

Abuse of oats leads to unpleasant consequences.

The product contains phytic acid. Its excess is fraught with leaching of calcium from the bones. And this is the first step towards the destruction of bone tissue - osteoporosis.

Do not overuse instant cereal. During processing, they lose a significant part of their useful components. The product contains little fiber and a lot of starch, which is converted into sugar and increases blood glucose levels. Systematic consumption of quick porridge is fraught with extra pounds.

Important! Due to the high protein content, oats are not recommended for chronic renal failure.

Oatmeal is contraindicated for people with celiac disease. This is a genetic disease associated with intolerance gluten free (protein found in all grains). When consuming oats, intestinal function is disrupted and the risk of developing food allergies increases.

How oatmeal is used in cooking

A popular cooking method is cooking in water or milk with the addition of butter. Many people prefer various supplements. Oatmeal goes well with fruits and berries, honey, dried fruits, nuts, and candied fruits. For greater benefits, you can add a handful of flax seeds to a plate.

A quick option is oatmeal in a jar. The flakes are poured into a jar or other container, poured with kefir or low-fat yogurt, and left overnight in the refrigerator. By morning the mass swells and becomes soft. To improve the taste, you can add nuts, dried fruits, berries, cinnamon, honey. This is the most useful way.

This is interesting:

The benefits and harms of oatmeal for the body and the area of ​​application of the product.

What are the benefits of oat water, how to prepare and drink it correctly.

Conclusion

Regular consumption of oatmeal is an excellent prevention of vitamin and mineral deficiency. To get the maximum benefit, it is recommended to give preference to whole grains. Cooking takes a lot of time, but the product retains its value. But you shouldn't overuse oatmeal.

The best option is to alternate it with buckwheat, rice, millet and other cereals.