If we are thinking of taking care of ourselves and maintaining a healthy diet, surely, we have considered starting to include in our diet a superfood that for years has been taking center stage: oats. This super cereal is a source of fiber with dozens of properties that not only favor digestion, but also favor the proper functioning of our organs, the elimination of toxins and the control of our weight.
However, because its use is not yet as widespread as the rest of cereals, many people wonder how to prepare oats and what is their best version. In this new article we will answer all these questions and answer the most common question: Can you eat raw oatmeal? Read!
What is better to eat raw or cooked oatmeal?
One of the most popular and delicious recipes with oatmeal are the famous porridge (or porridge). This dish is prepared hot with toppings, such as with fruit or nuts. This breakfast is full of nutrients and vitamins, plus it is comforting and provides you with energy for the whole day. However, many people who are interested in consuming fiber and taking advantage of the benefits of oats wonder how it will be better to consume it to make the most of its nutrients: raw oats or cooked oats, and… What if I eat raw oatmeal?
Well, sometimes you may have consumed oatmeal directly from the bag soaked in water or milk thinking that this was how you were consuming it better, but you should know that any type of oatmeal that is marketed as food is already pre-cooked so that it can be consumed. Completely raw oats are indigestible for our digestive system, all the flakes that are sold carry a cooking process.
When it comes to cooking oatmeal for breakfast or dessert, we are giving the cereal another texture and consistency, but beyond that, we are not taking away many more benefits than it had just out of the bag. It is, therefore, a matter of taste and you must also take into account the type of dish you are going to prepare with it, although the raw version would retain somewhat better the total of its properties.
Do you want to know how to make porridge of oatmeal? In this article we provide you with a totally healthy recipe.
Benefits of oatmeal
As we said, oatmeal is one of the most complete and nutritious foods. If you want to have a good diet, you should include it in your diet frequently throughout the week. Here we leave you a list of some of the great benefits of oats, all these you will get with its consumption:
- Blood control: in addition to being a food that does not provide any sugar, its composition of soluble fiber helps the contribution of sugar in our blood to be lower, creating a gel in our stomach that slows down digestion and reduces the percentage of sugar, making it a perfect food for people suffering from diabetes.
- Weight loss: Precisely because of this type of soluble fiber, our stomach remains working slower and the feeling of satiety is prolonged making us have fewer appetites and helping us control our weight.
- Energy: oatmeal is an ideal food to take in the morning, as it gives us a lot of energy and many nutrients with which to last until lunchtime. It is also a great option if you have to do some sport or physical effort.
- Cholesterol: its high fiber content makes it an antioxidant food that, in turn, cleanses us inside, preventing or lowering cholesterol in our arteries.
- Digestion: Insoluble fiber is also included within oats. We emphasize that it is ideal for the digestive system, since it is able to collect water from our body making our digestions lighter and our digestive system is better lubricated.
Oatmeal, therefore, is a very precious food and full of benefits for which it is worth including it in our diet. Of course, we must do it with measure and common sense, since if we eat oats every day or large quantities, we can run the risk of consuming more fiber than necessary and that ends up being counterproductive.
How to prepare oatmeal
This cereal is very versatile and can be used in the form of flour for desserts or can also be used for crepes. However, the most common way to prepare it is such as porridge or porridge, in addition, its preparation is very simple:
- In a saucepan put milk or water to heat.
- When it starts to boil, add the whole oat flakes and let them cook for 5 minutes by moving it so that they do not stick to the bottom.
- At this point, we can add more milk to give it creaminess, a tablespoon of sugar or sweeteners and a few drops of vanilla essence.
- Once served in a bowl, add pieces of banana, nuts and cinnamon to taste.
Well, if you did not know how to eat oatmeal, with these simple steps we will get one of the most basic recipes with oatmeal, but there are many more. If you are determined to include oatmeal in your diet and you are interested in the world of cooking, do not hesitate to continue on our website.
