Wonder oats

Oats contain a specific fiber known as beta-glucan, which is soluble fiber that helps in decreasing LDL( bad cholesterol), improving glycemic index, provides satiety & promotes laxation. The soluble fiber works by binding bile acids, which are made of cholesterol & removing it from the body before it can be recycled. The body needs to produce more bile acids, to do so, it turns to the cholesterol in blood. As bile acids are eliminated, more cholesterol is used up leading to a slow drop in its level.

What is great about beta glucan is it only lowers bad cholesterol, while the levels of good ones are unchanged. This better ratio between the bad & good cholesterol ensures protection against heart diseases.

Beat-glucan & diabetes- beta glucan prolongs the gastric emptying time & thus affects the glucose uptake from the small intestine, or due its high viscosity it delays the absorption of glucose, thus helps to control diabetes.

Oats & weight watch!

Being rich in fiber, it promotes satiety & prevents obesity.the high & complex carbohydrate content & low glycemic index also aids in weight reduction.

Oats & free radicals-

The anti-oxidants compounds in oats- avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol. A type of photochemicals, plaant lignas, which is converted by friendly flora in the intestines into mammalian lignans, including enterolactone, is thought to protect against breast & other hormone dependent cancers, osteoporosis & heart diseases. Oats is a good source od selenium, a powerful anti-oxidant, which helps to relieve asthma, reapirs cells & reduces risk of colon cancer.

One serving of oats( a bowl of oats) every day is the best for your body to help it from various diseases. It can be had as porridge, added to wheat flour, to thicken soups & dals.