Heart-healthy, fiber-packed and as versatile as they are nutritious, oats come in many different forms — whole-oat groats, steel-cut oats, Scottish oatmeal, old-fashioned rolled oats and instant oats — for a complete form of whole-grain nutrition.
Oatmeal received the first food-specific health claim approved by the FDA, and it gets the American Heart Association’s “heart healthy” seal because soluble fiber can aid in lowering the risk of heart disease. Recent research indicates that oats also have a unique antioxidant called avenanthramides that may help protect blood vessels from the damaging effects of LDL cholesterol.
Rich in a variety of B vitamins, like thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate, oats provide nutrients that support a healthy metabolism through the formation of red and white blood cells.
Finally, the soluble fiber found in oats helps with regulating blood glucose and keeps you full for longer because it helps to slow the digestion of food emptying from the stomach — giving oatmeal eaters that “stick to your ribs” feeling.
