HEALTH BENEFITS OF OATS

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OATS

(Avena sativa and A. byzantina)
General Information  
Like barley, have a hard outer hull that must be removed before it’s ready   for human consumption. Even though the outer hull of an oat kernel comes off easier than a barley kernel’s hull, it’s still not within reach of the average consumer to accomplish this. For this reason, if you want whole oats to eat, purchase them already hulled. Hulled oats, called oat groats, look very much like rye or Triticale.

Oats, known scientifically as Avena sativa, are a hardy cereal grain able to withstand poor soil conditions in which other crops are unable to thrive. Oats gain part  of their distinctive flavor from the roasting process that they undergo after being harvested and cleaned. Although oats are then hulled, this process does not strip away their bran and germ allowing them to retain a concentrated source of their fiber and nutrients.

Health Benefits 

1. It helps lower cholesterol levels, unique oat antioxidants reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, and substantially lower Type 2 Diabetes risk.

2. Antioxidant Benefits
In addition to its fiber benefits, oats are also a very good source of selenium. A necessary co-factor of the important antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase, selenium works with vitamin E in numerous vital antioxidant systems throughout the body. These powerful antioxidant actions make selenium helpful in decreasing asthma symptoms and in the prevention of heart disease. In addition, selenium is involved in DNA repair and is associated with a reduced risk for cancer, especially colon cancer.

3. Oats, like other grains and vegetables, contain hundreds of phytochemicals. Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer.

4. Oats have high fiber content. Fiber is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is spongy and absorbs many times its own weight of liquid. It makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation.

5. As the soluble fiber of oats is digested, it forms a gel, which causes the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine to be increased. The gel delays stomach emptying making you feel full longer which helps with weight loss.

6. Oats, like other cereal grains, are valued primarily as a source of carbohydrates which provide calories for energy needs.

7. Oats have a higher concentration of well-balanced protein than other cereals. Oats contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which have been associated with protection from chronic disease such as cancer.