I can remember back when I was around 7, my mother used to always fix me a bowl of oatmeal before school. I found the taste rather odd and I used to always say,”Mom why am I eating this?”
She would respond back saying,”Because it's good for you.”
How many times have we heard that? Well after I grew up, I found out that she wasn't kidding. Oatmeal is actually really good for you. There are many variations of oats: rolled oats, steel oats and crushed oats to name a few. The most common variation of oat that Americans intake is known as rolled oat and is usually associated with breakfast.
What makes oatmeal so great is that it is rich in dietary fibers which is imperative for our diets. Not many people get there recommended fiber intake and thus products like Activia, Fiber One and even McDonald's new oatmeal have emerged. Having high fiber is crucial because it can help lower your cholesterol. While we at Pierce Mattie have recently noticed a few aspiring nutrition bloggers bashing oatmeal, we ask – can you suggest something better for breakfast? We don’t think so.
Not only does oatmeal have a substantial amount of fiber, back in 1997 the FDA approved that having oatmeal in your everyday diet will decrease your risk of having heart disease. It also contains a sufficient amount of B vitamins and with a steady intake, can lower your blood pressure and blood glucose. Basically, it's a great way to get a substantial amount nutrients in your system and help decrease your risk of many health issues that can be handled.
And if you're like me, oatmeal can at times seem a bit bland and tasteless. Some of the ways that I have spiced up my oatmeal (literally) is by adding cinnamon, raspberries, strawberries and other small fruits. There are an endless amount of possibilities in which your oatmeal can taste and turn out. Eat up!
Posted by Kayla McIntosh on March 10, 2011 10:07 AM
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