The best and the easiest way to incorporate oats into your daily diet is by having oatmeal for breakfast. If you do not like to have oats in the morning, use them as a secret ingredient while baking. You can also try experimenting with this cereal and try other options. For example:
- Smoothies
- Pancakes
- Sandwiches
- Chaats
- Salads
Once in a while, you can also try making overnight oats. These are incredibly delicious, nutritious, and a quick breakfast option. Another option is to include rolled oats in your diet. The health benefits of both these options are discussed below.
1. Health Benefits of Overnight Oats
If you are someone always in a rush who tends to skip breakfasts, overnight oats are perfect for you. Mix rolled oats or quick-cooking oats with milk or curd, and add fruits and nuts. Then, put it in the refrigerator and have it in the morning.
Overnight oats are very rich in nutrients as well. However, soaking oats in an acidic mixture enhances the breakage of phytic acid. This element can harm the digestive enzymes and restrain the absorption of minerals.
Raw oats are a better source of resistant starch. This starch helps in weight loss and acts as a food for the good bacteria in the gut area. This also has a direct impact on our metabolism.
2. Health Benefits of Rolled Oats
The old-fashioned rolled oats are produced after steaming the oat grains and then rolling them into flakes. This process is more beneficial because it maintains the natural oils of the oats, thus increasing their shelf life. Moreover, the nutritional value of rolled oats is the same as any other kind of oats.
A half-cup of rolled oats contains:
- 190 calories
- 32 g carbs
- 7 g protein
- 5 g fibre
- 1 g sugars
- 3.5 g fats
Rolled oats are a versatile grain. Start with making smoothies if you are interested in trying out new recipes to include rolled oats in your daily diet.