So, what exactly are oats?

Oats are a type of whole grain. That means they carry with them an array of health benefits which unlike refined grains (white rice or white bread) means they haven’t been stripped of as many nutrients in processing.

Why should you eat oats?

Aside from the fact that they’re incredibly easy to transform into a delicious dish and are extremely budget friendly here are a few reasons why you should make oats a staple part of your diet!

Oats are packed full of fibre.

Fibre is an extremely important part of a balanced diet and if you love your oats, you’re doing great things to support your digestive health and your trips to the toilet! With oats being full of fibre they can also assist in reducing constipation and inducing regular bowel movements. Moreover, foods high in fibre have also been linked to lowering the risk of diabetes, heart disease and numerous cancers, particularly; bowel, prostate, breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Oats will boost your energy levels and keep you feeling satisfied.

Oats are a great low-GI carbohydrate which means that they give you a steady and sustained release of energy over a longer period of time, keeping you feeling satisfied for longer.

They’re also a great source of resistant starch, especially when eaten raw, which your gut bugs LOVE! Resistant starch is a newly discovered type of starch that ‘resists breakdown’ in the stomach, moving to the large colon where it’s used to fuel good bacteria, allowing them to reproduce and thrive. There are only a handful of foods out there with this unique type of fibre so if you’re a bircher muesli lover, know that you’re taking great care of your bacteria babies and they’ll love you right back!

However, it is important to note that there are different types of oats/oat forms. The different types of oats are determined by how they’re processed which impacts their GI.

Less processed forms of oats, like steel-cut or rolled oats, take longer to digest and therefore have a lower GI than instant oats, which go through a slightly longer processing period.

Regardless of processing, all oats are considered low GI and fantastic to include regularly in whatever way works for you.

So, when you’ve got a hectic morning ahead, oats are one of the best foods to choose.

Oats are full of antioxidants.

Oats are high in avenanthramides and are actually one of the few foods which contain this powerful antioxidant. Research conducted has shown that avenanthramides may help with blood pressure by dilating your blood vessels to improve blood flow (meaning you can carry more oxygen and energy to your muscles and brain, which in turn will support your body to undertake your daily activities).

Ways you might like to enjoy your oats!

• Choc Berry Porridge
• Banana Bread Baked Oats
• Apple Pie Porridge
• Baked Blueberry Oats
• Choc Chip Baked Oats
• Blueberry & Cinnamon Porridge
• Overnight Oats 3 ways (link to blog)
• Peanut Butter Pumpkin Protein Bars
• Blueberry and Oat Bars
• Anzac Biscuits

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