Health Bites         

                                    An Ode To Oats

Posted on 16th September, 2009/comments                                                        

Health Bites : Food That Heals

                   An Ode To Oats

An Ode To Oats is a compelling saga of transition for my family to healthy eating. It took many a persuasive attempts to win over their confidence and change from that " Not again !" to getting hooked to.  And when the subject in question was Oats it became all the more compelling.

Paeans of oats : The silence on the dinning table was the answer enough to my constant requests for eating oats. Clippings from magazines and news papers were pasted on the areas of maximum visibility. Searched  the super markets for the latest add-on in oatmeals. Baked many innovative goodies using oats. Finally with my single-minded goal of incorporating healthy food habits in my family I succeeded in making them sing paeans of oats for good.

Oaty facts :

• Rich in beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that helps in lowering cholesterol. It absorbsLDL (bad) cholesterol and let HDL (good) cholesterol  stay for longer time in the digestive system.
• Low  Glycemic Index makes it longer to get digested and absorbed slowly in in the blood stream. Thus keeping the blood sugar levels stable.
• GABA (Gama Amino Butyric Acid) an amino acid found in oats prevents anxiety.
• The Vitamin B in it releases Dopamine into the brain vitalizing  the nervous system.
• Oats has high concentration of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and thiamine.
• It is power packed with phytochemicals to help fight diseases.
• Contains flavanoids an antidote for cancer and heart disease.

Health Benefits :

• Help reduce obesity and hunger pangs. Low GI makes it digest slowly thus giving a feeling of fullness for a longer period.
• The fibers in this wholegrain makes the stool bulky and ease excretion.
• Reduces cholesterol by absorbing the LDLs (bad) from the blood stream.
• Low GI makes it a sensible choice for people suffering from diabetes.
• A highly recommended  heart-healthy food due to the presence of soluble fibre beta-glucan.

Prudent diet changes :

• Add oats to the wheat flour to make bread or chapattis.
• Try mixing it in the batter for making idlies, dosas and uttapums.
• Make snacks such as khakra, poha and muthias.
  Porridge and kanji is a healthy way to start your day.

Track down many articles and recipes made from oatmeal in my site.

Make this heart-healthy and blood-sugar stabilizer your confidante !

Stay fit singing  Ode To Oats.  

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