Diets and Nutrition

The benefits of oats beyond helping you lose weight.

By Eloísa Carmona - 2020-08-06T19:11:27Z
Beyond asking what oatmeal is good for and whether it helps with weight loss, this cereal has a much better benefit related to your mood.The avena sativa, commonly known as oats, is a gluten-free whole grain that is a great source of important vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and antioxidants.Although boiled oats in water or milk usually make a great breakfast and are not only eaten, they also work as a face mask, for example. They are also used to make plant milk, flour, and are often used in muffins, granola bars, cookies, and other baked goods.How many calories are in oatmeal?The nutrient composition of oats is balanced and they are a good source of carbohydrates and fiber, containing more protein and fat than most cereals, along with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds.If you are concerned about the calorie content of oats, half a cup (78 grams) of dry oats contains: 51 grams of carbohydrates, 13 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fiber, but only 303 calories, making oats one of the most nutrient-rich foods you can eat.In addition to having only 303 calories, oats are said to help with weight loss because they contain large amounts of beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that forms a thick gel-like solution in the intestine and slows the time it takes for the stomach to empty food. This results in an increased feeling of fullness, which can help you eat fewer calories and lose weight.On the other hand, beta-glucan may also promote the release of peptide YY (PYY), a satiety hormone produced in the intestine in response to eating, which has been shown to reduce calorie intake and may decrease the risk of obesity.As incredible as these characteristics of oats may sound, they are not the best benefit of this cereal, as it is also related to helping you with stress.Oats are a triple threat to anxiety thanks to their content of B vitamins, magnesium, and fiber, all essential nutrients for reducing stress. Oats are also one of the best food sources for serotonin production, the antidepressant hormone.When serotonin levels are low, anxiety increases, so it is essential to eat foods that help in the production of this hormone. These are known as comfort foods, and sometimes even thinking about warm oatmeal is comforting.But warm and with milk is not the only way to include oats in your daily meals; you can do it in a yogurt bowl with fruit, you can make oatmeal pancake, oat pancakes, and oatmeal cookies. Try our recipes and combat stress with them.