The most important meal of the day is undoubtedly the breakfast, so you should always make sure it is healthy and nutritious. This meal provides the needed energy for the day and accelerates the metabolism.
If you are trying to lose extra weight, you should never skip the breakfast, as that will simply boost the unhealthy cravings during the rest of the day.
A recent study published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism found that the best possible variant for a breakfast is in fact oatmeal. It involved 36 men and women, who were divided into 3 groups.
All participants consumed 350 calories daily, while the first group received oatmeal, the second cornflakes and the third only drank water for breakfast, and the lunch was the same for all.
Participants needed to record their level of satiety in the next 3 hours. Researchers analyzed their blood samples in order to control their blood sugar and insulin levels.
They found that participants in the first group had fewest cravings through the morning and afternoon, and consumed 31% fewer calories for lunch. Oatmeal was found to be most beneficial for people who had to lose weight, as those people consumed 50% fewer calories for lunch.
Participants from the second group felt hungry after 3 hours, and this was also the case with the ones who drank water for breakfast.
Oatmeal stays longer in the stomach, while cornflakes raise blood glucose levels, and then the individual experiences a sudden drop in sugar.
Numerous studies have confirmed the same findings, and it has been found that oatmeal for breakfast helps weight loss and reduces the calorie intake by 31-50%, and its effects are long- lasting.
Oats are delicious and healthy and can be added to all kinds of meals, side dishes, stew or salads, as well as many desserts.
Oats contain numerous nutrients and offer multiple health benefits, including:
It provides a feeling of satiety
Oats are high in fiber which prevents cravings and causes a feeling of fullness. Fiber helps digestion and thus promotes weight loss.
It lowers Blood Pressure
Oats regulate blood pressure, as they contain lignan, vegetable fiber, which has been shown to lower blood pressure by 30% if used regularly.
It reduces Cholesterol
The fiber in oats binds to fat in the body, and thus reduces LDL or bad cholesterol levels in the blood. Oatmeal also lowers the risk of heart diseases, heart failure, and strokes, and keeps the heart and blood vessels healthy.
It Lowers the Risk of Cancer
The British Medical Journal published a study which showed that oats lower the risk of colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancers.
