Oatmeal – Cup a Day Will Keep Fat at Bay!
One of my favorite foods in the world is oatmeal; cup of this stuff for breakfast and I’m set for the day! I know, it sounds BORING, and something your grandmother would eat every morning. But trust me, when you try having this for breakfast for a week straight, you won’t go back to anything else!
Here’s the deal: breakfast, as I hope most of you know, is the most important meal of the day. Why? Because the food you have first thing in the morning really affect your mood and energy for the rest of the day! This is why you do not want to start the day off with greasy bacon, or even worse, without eating anything. Oatmeal is extremely nutritious and satisfying, meaning you will feel satiated for at least a few hours after eating it. And for those of you who are stove-top phobic out there, no fear! It’s extremely easy to make, in fact, if you get instant oatmeal, then all you do is add boiling water to the mix.
Here are some important health benefits of this super-food:
Excellent source of fiber: We’re supposed to be getting 25 grams of fiber daily. Most Americans do not get enough of it a day, and this leads to higher cholesterol, increase in risk of heart disease, and constipation. One serving of oatmeal provides 20 percent of the recommended requirement!
Source of antioxidants: Oats are a source of avenanthramides, which work to help prevent cholesterol oxidation (which often leads to plaque formation in the arteries- which in turn increases risk of developing heart disease).
Boosts immunity: Beta-glucans, found in oatmeal, have been shown to reduce infection and help fight off bacteria and viruses. Additionally, this type of polysaccharide also has cancer-fighting properties. Thus, remember to start the day off with a hot bowl of oatmeal in the winter, especially during flu season!
I like to enjoy my morning fix with a good helping of fresh berries (raspberries and/or blueberries), a third of a cup of craisins, 2 tablespoons of crushed walnuts and/or almond slices, a tablespoon of wheat germ, and a tablespoon of ground flax seed. Mmm, just writing this post is making me hungry! Just remember not to sabotage your healthy breakfast with any sugar (that’s what the fruit is for), or processed, sweetened oatmeal brands.
To read more diet and exercise tips, check out my blog Oatmeal Cup now!
