Gluten Free Oats and Soft Citrus
YOUR HEALTH MATTERS
Oats are among the healthiest grains on earth. In fact, oats have been the number one breakfast food for many across the world, for about 130 years.
Most people love the taste of oats but to other’s demise they cannot enjoy oats due to gluten intolerance!
Good News!
There is a special type of oats called the gluten-free oats and these can be safely consumed by people who have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
So, what does gluten free mean?
Gluten free means that food does not contain gluten. Gluten means “glue” in Latin and is a protein that’s mainly found in wheat, rye, and barley. It helps things like pizza dough and pasta keep their structure, and for most of us, eating it is no big deal. But that’s not the case for everyone.
Gluten affects people with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten causes the body to attack the small intestine. This results in lots of bloating, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, and fatigue.
So, what are the benefits of Gluten-Free Oats?
written, tried and tested by Faith Mandebvu
Gluten free oats are high in a soluble fiber called beta-glucan. Beta-glucan helps reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels, promotes healthy gut bacteria and increases feelings of fullness.
Gluten free oats aid in lowering the risk of heart disease by reducing both total and LDL cholesterol and protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidation.
Oatmeal helps you to lose weight by making you feel satiated. It does this by slowing down the emptying of the stomach and increasing production of the satiety hormone PYY.
Oatmeal has long been used to help treat dry and itchy skin. It may help relieve symptoms of various skin conditions, including eczema. If you want to have the best skin, its best to include oats in your diet.
Oatmeal protects against diabetes. The soluble fibre in oats does not contribute to blood sugar spikes that can put you at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you already have diabetes (either type 1 or type 2) soluble fibre can help keep your condition under control.
Gluten free oats boosts your immune system. One specific type of fibre found in oats is beta-glucan. This type of fibre helps your immune cells find and get to sites of infection quicker as it raises your immune system’s response.
Oats contain many powerful antioxidants, including avenanthramides. These compounds may help reduce blood pressure and provide other benefits. They are also nutritious as they are rich in carbs and fiber, but also higher in protein and fat than most other grains. They are very high in many vitamins and minerals.
The squash contains lutein antioxidant which plays a huge part in preventing the emergence of cataracts and macular degeneration, which often leads to blindness. If you want healthy eyes and improved eye sight, then start eating!
Butternuts reduce the risk of heart disease as they contain negligible fat and almost no cholesterol. They also contain magnesium which has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Magnesium along with potassium helps in reducing high blood pressure. The vitamin folate present in butternuts helps in removing an unhealthy metabolism which is responsible for heart attack and stroke. Moreover, folate lowers cholesterol levels, and this reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Doctors recommend that you should consume plenty of fiber rich foods to aid the body’s digestion process. The squash contains good amounts of dietary fiber, and you can include it in your diet to facilitate bowel movements. If you have been having digestion issues such as constipation or bloating, the butternut squash can relieve those symptoms.
