Oatmeal & Weight Loss

Many children would agree that oatmeal is not their favorite breakfast food. It may not have been yours when you were younger, but it should be now. Oatmeal is an excellent asset when you are trying to lose weight. It is full of health benefits that will assist you in your weight loss endeavor. With all the flavors available now, you are sure to find one you will enjoy.

History

• Because of the many species of oats, it is difficult to determine their exact origin. Oats have been used as cereal from ancient times. Some believe that they were used in China as far back as 7000 B.C. Others believe that oats were gathered in Egypt around 2000 B.C. The Greeks were the first to use oats in our familiar porridge form. It became more common after that for oats to be used as oatmeal.

Types

• There are several different types of oatmeal. The one you are probably most familiar with is instant oatmeal. Although instant cereals may be convenient, they are often loaded with sugar and salt. Another type of oatmeal is old-fashioned oats. These are the most common in baking and usually the least expensive. Quick-cooking oats are a great choice if you are short on time but do not want to risk the sugar and salt in instant oatmeal.

Function

• Oatmeal is loaded with fiber. One cup of oatmeal has about 6 grams of fiber. This fiber is soluble, meaning it sucks up water and slows down the digestive process, which makes you feel full longer. Eating oatmeal in the morning will keep you full until lunch and help you avoid those mid-morning snacks. Because oatmeal is also rich in other nutrients, you are giving your body the energy it needs to get through the morning.

Benefits

• Oatmeal is a great way to get some of your daily fiber into your eating plan. Because of that fiber, oatmeal can help stabilize blood sugar and fight colon cancer. Not only does oatmeal assist in weight loss, it is also an excellent way to lower your cholesterol and is believed to help in avoiding heart disease. According to the American Cancer Society the phytochemicals in oatmeal may also be able to fight cancer.

Considerations

• Oatmeal only offers 4 to 6 grams of fiber per one cup serving. It is recommended to eat 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Find fiber in other foods as well to assist with weight loss. Try to stick with the quick-cooking oats or the old-fashioned oats to avoid the sugars and salt that instant oatmeal includes. Along with eating oatmeal, you need to exercise and eat healthy foods all day. Eating oatmeal alone will not bring about weight loss, it will just assist in the weight loss process.