Fiber. One of the original reasons why I created Todd's Power Oats was to get more fiber into my diet. And it looks like I'm not alone. Research published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine shows that as many as 95% of Americans don't get enough fiber.
That's what led me to oatmeal. I've always loved oatmeal for its high fiber content. But the more I've got to know oatmeal over these past 15 years, I've discovered even more about what makes oats such a nutritional superhero. Here are my 3 favorite health benefits of oatmeal.
1.) Heart health
The soluble fiber in oatmeal can help decrease LDL cholesterol in the blood (which is the bad kind you want to limit.) A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adding the soluble fiber found in oats to study participants resulted in a reduction in LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol compared to the control group.
2.) Managing your appetite
The fiber in oatmeal slows down digestion, helping you feel full faster and longer. In a study published in Nutrition Journal, participants who ate oatmeal experienced improved appetite control for four hours compared to participants who ate ready-to-eat breakfast cereal. I know I have the same reaction when I scarf down a bowl of cereal and then I'm hungry 15 minutes later. With slow-digesting oats, I feel full for longer. And with the added protein in Todd's Power Oats, this "steady energy" effect is enhanced even more.
3.) Improve blood sugar
According to the CDC, one in 3 adults have prediabetes. That's over 88 million people! The scary part is 90% of the people with prediabetes don't even know they have it. And one in 10 adults have type 2 diabetes, which is what prediabetes leads to if it's not managed. Diabetes is characterized by significantly elevated blood sugars. According to research research published in the journal Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, oats may help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. The thinking is that the fiber in oats forms a thick gel in the stomach that delays the emptying of the stomach and slows to flow of glucose into the blood. Who knew?!
You can take advantage of all of these powerful health benefits in each small but mighty bowl of Todd's Power Oats. In addition to the power of oatmeal, we also deliver even more fiber and health benefits with ingredients like organic chia and flax seeds. And we've made the humble oat even stronger with 30 grams of protein. Can your regular oatmeal, or breakfast cereal, do that? Probably not.
So next time you're stirring the almond milk into your Todd's Power Oats before going to bed, thank yourself for committing to a healthy breakfast the next day. My overnight oats will cook while you sleep, which is like putting good health on autopilot!
Be good to your self!
