Gretchen Scalpi, RDN

“Once we sowed wild oats, now we cook them in the microwave.”
-Anonymous

January is National Oatmeal Month and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate. Oatmeal has long been one of our favorites but this month we’re going to talk about the health benefits of oatmeal.

The scientific name for oats is Avena sativa. To create oatmeal ground oat groats are de-husked, heated and cooled and then they are milled to create oatmeal. You’ll find steel-cut or rolled oatmeal in just about every grocery store.

The benefits of eating oatmeal include:

• Oatmeal contains contains fiber that keeps you fuller longer and stabilizes blood sugar.

• As a whole grain oatmeal can reduce the risk of several diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

• Some people on a gluten-free diet may tolerate oatmeal well even though it contains a small amount of gluten. For those who can’t tolerate regular oatmeal purchase certified gluten free oatmeal.

• Want a good source of copper, biotin, vitamin B1, magnesium, dietary fiber, chromium, zinc, and protein? Eat oatmeal.

• The avenanthramides in oatmeal are an antioxidants that can prevent hardening of the arteries.

• The beta-gluten fiber in oatmeal increases the immune response to diseases by helping neutrophils get to an infection quickly while helping to eliminate bacterial.

Now that you know the numerous benefits of eating oatmeal you will want to add it to your diet as often as possible. You’ll find many recipes that include oatmeal in cookbooks or online.

Tags: gluten free, healthy eating, oatmeal