Add One of the Best Soluble Fiber Foods to Your Diet
Oatmeal has long been praised for its ability to help people lose weight. For one, it is a much healthier alternative to traditional American breakfast options, like bacon and sausage, which are packed with saturated fats. Simply cutting out these processed meats can make a big difference in your weight loss journey. The main reason oatmeal is so good for weight loss is because of its soluble fiber content. A typical bowl of oatmeal made from ¾ cup of dry oats contains 3g of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber can help you achieve or maintain a healthy weight because of its ability to help you feel full and avoid continuing to snack and add extra calories to your diet. The soluble fiber found in oatmeal has a variety of other health benefits as well, including:
- Improving blood glucose control
- Reducing blood cholesterol
- Regulating blood sugar
- Controlling body weight
- Regulating bowel movements
- Preventing hemorrhoids
- Helping prevent colon cancer
- Helping prevent breast cancer
- Helping prevent diabetes
Why Is Oatmeal Healthy?
Soluble fiber is not the only nutrient that makes oatmeal such a healthy option for breakfast, or for any time of the day. Oats are also jam-packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds. Listed below are some of the nutrients that oatmeal contains, the percentage of your Recommended Dietary Intake that a serving of oatmeal meets for each nutrient, and the benefits your body will experience from each:
- Manganese – 191% of your RDI
Manganese helps with protein and amino acid digestion and utilization, as well as the metabolism of cholesterol and carbohydrates. One of the best parts about manganese is that it helps your body utilize other vitamins, like choline, thiamine, and vitamins C and E. It also helps promote liver function.
- Phosphorus – 41% of your RDI
Phosphorous is actually the second most abundant mineral in the body. It helps to build strong teeth, manage how your body stores and uses energy, reduces muscle pain after exercise, filters out waste in your kidneys, helps repair tissue and cells, and produces DNA and RNA.
- Magnesium – 34% of your RDI
Magnesium is an essential part of keeping your body healthy. It is important for many regular processes, such as regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. It also plays a role in constructing protein, bone, and DNA.
- Copper – 24% of your RDI
Copper is another essential nutrient of the body. It helps with iron absorption, and when combined with iron, it promoted the formation of red blood cells in the body. It also helps maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, nerves, and immune function.
- Iron – 20% of your RDI
The number of people who have iron deficiency or anemia is staggering. Around 2 billion people, or over 30% of the world’s population, are anemic. If you are one of them, you might do well to incorporate some more oatmeal into your diet. When your body gets the proper amount of iron it needs, it will be able to preserve its vital functions, such as energy and focus, gastrointestinal processes, supporting the immune system, and regulating body temperature.
- Zinc – 20% of your RDI
Zinc is found in cells throughout the body and helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. Your body needs zinc in order to make proteins and DNA, which are the genetic materials in cells. Zinc also helps your immune system and metabolism function properly.
- Folate – 11% of your RDI
Your body needs folate to make DNA and other genetic material. It also needs folate to help your cells divide. If you are deficient in folate, you will likely experience extreme tiredness, an overall lack of energy, and weakness in your muscles.
- Vitamin B1 – 39% of your RDI
Vitamin B1 is also called thiamin, and it allows your body to convert carbohydrates into energy. Vitamin B1 is needed for glucose and metabolism, and it plays a role in nerve, muscle, and heart function. If you have low vitamin B1, it is likely that you will experience a loss of appetite, fatigue, irritability, and muscle weakness.
- Vitamin B5 – 10% of your RDI
Vitamin B5 is also called pantothenic acid and it is one of the most essential vitamins for human life. Vitamin B5 is needed to make blood cells, and it helps convert your nutrients into energy. If you struggle with vitamin B5 deficiency, you will likely experience headaches, fatigue, irritability, and disturbed sleep. Eating oatmeal can not only help you lose weight, but it can also help you get the essential vitamins your body needs to thrive.
For more weight loss tips, call Soza Weight Loss at (504) 475-9817 or contact us online.