Enjoying a bowl of oatmeal regularly is very beneficial to your health especially if you are trying to prevent or are currently dealing with heart disease or diabetes. Oats, oat bran, and oatmeal contain a specific type of fiber known as beta-glucan. The proven beneficial effects of this special fiber has on cholesterol levels has been proven multiple times since the 60's. Coupled with other health beneficial complementary foods such as blueberries and cinnamon also adds to the synergistic effects of these foods.
Unique Oat Antioxidants
Unique oat antioxidants called avenanthramides reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, suggests a study conducted at Tufts University and published in The Journal of Nutrition.
Oatmeal is a healthy food for the heart due mainly to their high β-glucan content. In addition, they contain more than 20 unique polyphenols, avenanthramides, which have shown strong antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. The polyphenols of oats have also recently been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and anti-itching activity, which may provide additional protection against coronary heart disease, colon cancer, and skin irritation.
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Studies also show that beta-glucan has beneficial effects in diabetes as well. Type 2 diabetes patients given foods high in this type of oat fiber or given oatmeal or oat bran rich foods experienced much lower rises in blood sugar.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Oatmeal is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Oatmeal is a food, not a drug or dietary supplement.
Notes:
Meydani, Mohsen. "Nutrition Reviews." Potential Health Benefits of Avenanthramides of Oats. Potential Health Benefits of Avenanthramides of Oats, Dec. 2009. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. ↩
