With Eden Gardens-based nutritionist Donovan Grant, let us look at the varying qualities of oats. First, let's compare the caloric value of oats with white all-purpose flour:
1 cup cornmeal porridge sweetened = 260 calories
Where oats porridge is also taken with bread and butter or some other kinds of pastry, this adds even more caloric load of your meal. Individuals on a weight loss programme must be very careful with oats as they might end up heavier.
Oats and oats products are usually taken in the mornings, replacing fruits which are the best things to have at that time. Fruits have more natural fibre than oats, as well as more minerals, vitamins and organic water. Fruits will also enhance a bowel movement. Oats is also sometimes taken at nights. In this case, the grain is often not properly digested leading to an upset stomach in the morning.
TUMMY ENLARGEMENT
Oats also contributes to tummy enlargement and foul breath (fermenting carbs). In the same way that oats swells in water, it does the gut. In some cases, oats taken with fruits or other sugary foods, or high protein substances can result in fermentation, rather than proper digestion leading to excess gas (flatulence ) in the digestive system.
In addition, oats, because of its high starch content, can lead to dry skin, pimples and other serious skin blemishes. Individuals with excess pimples or other skin blemishes should reduce or eliminate starchy foods from their diet.
It should be noted that unlike sugars, starch molecules are not soluble in water. Excess starch can travel through the blood and lymph streams as solid molecules which the cells, tissues and glands cannot utilise. Therefore, the body tries to expel this starch. As the eliminating organ becomes overwhelmed with excess starch, the next best means of exit is through the pores of the skin, so we get pimples.
Germs propagate more freely on starchy matter than almost any other substance, creating pus substances which are more easily expelled through skin and so we have the formation of pimples.
We might try to remove the pimples by applying all kinds of topical treatments without addressing the real cause of the problem.
If you are taking oats to reduce your cholesterol level, haveyou thought about what had cause the cholesterol to get high in first place? Take steps to deal with the root cause which might involve eating much less meat. In addition, increasing oat intake might increase weight, which begins a new series of problems.
SMALL AMOUNTS
For those who still love their oats, note that it should be taken in small amounts, preferably in the form of rolled oats which is less processed. It should also be properly soaked and possibly eaten blended. Soaking ensures that it does not pull extra water from the body.
For those who must have oats, here is a nice and healthy shake you can try. This can be used to replace a meal:
