Oatmeal has become a very popular choice for breakfast. This food is believed to contain various beneficial nutrition which is useful in supporting proper digestion. Oatmeal is resulted from slow-cooked oat grains which can be reheated without decreasing its nutrition benefits. Oatmeal can also be combined with lean protein diets, such as nuts. People with health issues, such is having high cholesterol, having hypertension, and are diabetic are advised to take some oatmeal every day to help lowering this level of bad substances in blood. Studies have shown that oatmeal is effective in performing good digestion process which contributes to further health.
Oatmeal and cholesterol
Our body contains low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is also known as a bad cholesterol. Conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered as a good cholesterol. The levels of these two kinds of cholesterol in our bloodstream will be based on what we put into our body. That is our diets. Some kinds of diets may lower and heighten the level of LDL and HDL based on its nutritional contents. Oatmeal is one of the food which contributes to the levels of this LDL and HDL. Besides the types of cholesterols, our body also possesses two types of fibers, the soluble and insoluble fibers. Soluble fiber functions to reduce absorption of cholesterol from the intestine. Oatmeal is loaded with soluble fibers which therefore reduces the concentration of your LDL or bad cholesterol. Increasing level of LDL may increase the risk of catching heart and blood vessels diseases. Consumption of natural oatmeal will reduce the amount of LDL and thus, prevent the risk of having high cholesterol level.
Does oatmeal really lower cholesterol?
Oatmeal contains soluble fiber which is beneficial in lowering cholesterol level in our bloodstream. Cholesterol is actually needed by our body to support proper digestion, although increasing number of it that we got from our diet intakes might be harmful for the entire health. Oats contain a substance called beta-glucan, which is a water soluble fiber. This fiber will prevent the body from absorbing excessive amount of dietary cholesterol and thus, reduce the level of LDL. Therefore, regular consumption of oats balanced with other healthy diets will help our body maintain the healthy level of LDL. Although oats does not seem to increase the amount of HDL, this does not matter, as it is able to lower the amount of total cholesterol of the body.
Is instant oatmeal also effective in lowering cholesterol?
When talking about oatmeal, most researches refer to natural oats which is slow-cooked into an oatmeal porridge. Very few of these researches refer to instant pre-packed oats which can be easily found in modern supermarkets. Therefore, some questions about this kind of oat have been raised. The most common one is about how effective an instant at may lower our bad cholesterol level compared to the grandmother oats. In fact, pre-packed instant oats give similar effect on our digestion to natural oats. There is no major difference between the two kinds of oats. However, these oats possess a different glycemic index, which is used to calculate how quickly a food increases your blood sugar level within two-hour period. Instant oat has a higher glycemic index than the natural oat, because instant oats have been processed for providing quicker cooking period. Therefore, this kind of oat is processed more quickly by the body and therefore may stay in your blood stream longer. To give it a lower glycemic index, you only have to combine the consumption with lean protein diets, such as nuts or low-fat milk, which will help lowering your cholesterol level.
What other foods are effective for lowering cholesterol?
Despite its benefits for our digestion, oats is rejected by a lot of people who do not like the way it tastes. Should you are one of these, you do not have to be concerned, since some other foods might replace oats in lowering high cholesterol level. Foods loaded with omega-3 fatty acid, such as fish are highly advised. Banana is also rich of soluble fiber and tastes way better than oats. You might want to consider some other vegetables and fruits which are loaded with vitamin E and B to maintain cholesterol level.