9 Benefits of Oatmeal for Health and Its Ingredients
Oatmeal is one of the good nutritious intake for daily consumption. One of the benefits of oatmeal is that it provides a longer full effect, so it can help maintain ideal body weight. These properties make oatmeal a mainstay of food for dieters.
However, the health benefits of oatmeal are not limited to this. Oatmeal contains various nutrients that are good for the body, especially in improving digestion, brightening the skin, increasing skin moisture, and so on.
Let’s look at the following review to find out the full content and benefits of oatmeal.
Oatmeal content
Oatmeal is a healthy food that is known for its myriad benefits, especially for people who are on a diet. However, do you know what are the contents of oatmeal? Many people think that oatmeal comes from wheat. In fact, oatmeal is different from oats.
Wheat is generally processed into flour to be used as a basic ingredient for cakes, bread, and so on. Meanwhile, oatmeal is a food made from oats or also known as oats (a type of cereal plant that grows a lot in subtropical countries) which is processed in its intact form to maintain the fiber and epidermis.
Oatmeal is one of the high-fiber foods which also contains various important nutrients for the body. The nutritional content in 100 grams of oats is:
- Carbohydrates: 67.7 gr
- Protein: 13.2 gr
- Water: 10.8 gr
- Dietary fiber: 10.1 gr
- Total fat: 6.52 gr
- Unsaturated fatty acids: 2.3 gr
- Phosphorus: 410 mg
- Potassium: 362 mg
- Magnesium: 138 mg
- Calcium : 52 mg
- Sodium: 6 mg
- Iron: 4.25 mg
- Zinc: 3.64 mg
- Sugar: 0.99 gr
- Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol): 0.42 mg
- Vitamin B-6: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin K : 2 µg
- Energy: 379 kcal
Various Benefits of Oatmeal for Health
The nutrients contained in oatmeal can help the body produce the energy it needs every day. Therefore, this food is good to serve as a breakfast menu to support energy to carry out daily activities. Moreover, the high fiber content in oatmeal is also good for digestion.
Here are some of the benefits of oatmeal for the body in full.
1. Maintain Ideal Body Weight
There is no doubt about the benefits of oatmeal for the diet. Oatmeal is known to contain soluble fiber which can have a longer fulling effect and beta glucan which triggers the release of satiety hormones more quickly so you are not triggered to overeat. Carbohydrates in oatmeal can also help meet energy needs, so you don’t feel weak even though you’re on a diet.
2. Maintain Cholesterol Levels
One of the benefits of oatmeal is maintaining normal cholesterol levels in the body. Oatmeal contains beta glucan which can lower blood cholesterol and soluble fiber which plays a role in inhibiting the absorption of bad cholesterol (LDL) which triggers heart attacks and strokes.
3. As a Source of Antioxidants
Another important benefit of oatmeal is that it is a source of antioxidants for the body. The content of polyphenols (compounds rich in avenanthramide) in oatmeal apparently can prevent free radicals that trigger various health problems, such as skin disorders , cardiovascular disease and so on.
4. Lowers Blood Pressure
Not only can it lower and maintain cholesterol levels, oatmeal is also useful for lowering blood pressure in the body. The benefits of oatmeal on this one are obtained from the content of antioxidants, namely substances that can increase the production of nitric oxide which plays a role in regulating blood vessels so that it can reduce the risk of hypertension .
5. As an Energy Source
Oatmeal is a type of food that is rich in carbohydrates, so it can help produce the energy needed by the body. The absorption of oatmeal in the body takes place slowly so that it can provide a longer energy boost without increasing blood sugar levels. In addition, oats also contain B vitamins which can help process energy metabolism.
6. Smooth Digestion
The high fiber content in oatmeal can encourage the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract and treat various digestive disorders , such as irritable bowel syndrome , constipation and diarrhea . Even so, the function of oatmeal in overcoming disease still requires further research to get more accurate evidence.
7. Brighten the Skin
Not only as a food menu, oatmeal apparently is also often processed into skin care products such as soap, masks, or skin lightening scrubs. The efficacy of oatmeal in brightening the skin is no longer a secret. You can also make this natural mask yourself at home by mixing oat powder and milk.
However, it’s a good idea if you do an allergy test first by applying a small amount of this natural mask to the skin and waiting for a while. If signs of allergy or irritation appear, then you are advised to look for other alternative masks.
8. Moisturizing Skin
The next benefit of oatmeal for the skin is as a natural skin moisturizer. Oatmeal contains beta glucan which can protect the outermost skin layer ( skin barrier ), even provides nutrients to the skin so it can provide longer moisture.
9. Overcoming Acne
There are also benefits of oatmeal for the face, especially in dealing with acne . This benefit is obtained from the zinc content in oatmeal which is able to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation. Even so, the benefits of oatmeal for this one face still raise pros and cons, especially for sensitive skin, so it would be better if you consult a dermatologist before using it.