Today it is common to hear the term “superfoods”; It is believed that these provide significantly more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than other types of products; In addition, they are necessary and important foods in any type of diet.
Health professionals mention that the best way to prevent diseases in the short, medium and long term is to have good habits; Among them, eat a healthy and balanced diet that includes proteins, carbohydrates in their natural state, many fruits and vegetables. Also, the diet must be accompanied by the practice of frequent physical activity according to the age and weight of each patient.
One of the most common diseases that are triggered in adulthood is high cholesterol. This waxy substance, cholesterol, is thought to be essential at adequate levels for the formation of cells in the body; nevertheless, when it accumulates excessively, it can clog the arteries, causing complications so that the blood can circulate properly through the bloodstream.
Oatmeal is considered a superfood that can help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood. Due to its nutritional properties, this substance is released from the arteries, as long as it is accompanied by a good diet and physical exercise.
The portal of health, beauty and personal care Body and Mind explains the properties and benefits that the consumption of this cereal brings; due to its high content of carbohydrates and fiber, this product can help treat the symptoms of constipation and may even prevent it. It is also high in “magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, and vitamin B1, as well as small doses of calcium, folic acid, and other B vitamins.”
- Reduce the cholesterol: the beta-glucans that this cereal contains are responsible for reducing the levels of this lipid in the blood. This compound is responsible for eliminating the bad cholesterol that other foods that are consumed provide.
- Regulates blood sugar levels: beta-glucans, when in contact with water, form a gel that is produced when the digestion process is carried out, this causes the sugar that is consumed to be digested more slowly, therefore it passes in a more controlled way to the bloodstream.
- Rich in antioxidants: oats contain polyphenols called avenanthramides; These compounds are thought to help improve heart health; In addition, they fulfill the same functions of an antioxidant. For this reason, “it combats cellular oxidation, has an effect that regulates blood pressure and generates an anti-inflammatory effect.”
- Feeds the good bacteria in the gut: oats have a soluble fiber called beta-glucan; This is fermented within the body, generating a probiotic effect in the intestine, which means that “it feeds the beneficial bacteria that make up the microbiota and favors their growth, viability and permanence in the intestines.”
- Helps maintain weight at proper levels: This food generates a satiety effect, so it can be consumed between meals to avoid ingesting products that are harmful to health and that can increase body weight.
- Prevents asthma: “According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the early introduction of oats in the diet of children reduces the risk of developing persistent-type asthma”.