Oatmeal oatmeal: benefits and harms, how to use

The benefits and harms of oatmeal is a question asked by advocates of healthy eating and healthy foods. It is necessary to understand what the oatmeal is and what properties it has.

What is oatmeal and what is it made of

Oatmeal is a product that was very popular in the old days, but for some time it was undeservedly forgotten. Now oatmeal is experiencing a kind of revival and is again often found in culinary recipes.

Oatmeal is obtained by grinding oat grains. which is reflected in the product name. However, the technology for the production of oatmeal is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Before crushing the grains, they are carefully processed:

• soaked in water for a long time;
• dry completely and even lightly fry;
• pounded and sieved until a perfectly homogeneous powder is obtained.

As a result of the step-by-step processing, a product is obtained that is suitable for making "quick" porridge. Dough, unlike grain, does not need to be boiled - it is enough just to fill it with water or milk to immediately put it on the table.

What is the difference between oatmeal and oat flour

Oatmeal and oat flour are very similar in appearance and properties - but they are two different products. Flour is made by grinding raw grains and used for baking. Milk is created in accordance with a multi-stage technology, oats undergo complex processing, and the final product is used mainly for making delicious cereals.

Chemical composition and calorie content of oatmeal

Despite pre-processing, oatmeal retains almost all the nutrients present in oat grains. Namely, the product includes:

• important vitamins - E, B, PP;
• mineral components - iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper;
• zinc and manganese;
• bioflavonoids;
• lecithin and alanine;
• cysteine ​​and lignin;
• amino acids;
• thiamine and riboflavin;
• folic acid;
• pyridoxine;
• starch and ash.

100 g of oatmeal contains about 357 calories, the product has an average calorie value. At the same time, most of all in oatmeal carbohydrates - up to 65%, a lot of protein - up to 20%, and very little fat - about 7%.

Why is oatmeal useful?

Tolokno is not only convenient to use, but also a very useful product. In particular, oatmeal:

• helps to normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines, speeds up the metabolic process;
• serves as a good choleretic agent and facilitates the liver;
• protects blood vessels from atherosclerosis, since it reduces harmful cholesterol and prevents plaque from forming on the vascular walls;
• improves cardiac activity;
• strengthens the immune system;
• has a beneficial effect on the endocrine and nervous systems;
• protects against nervous disorders, insomnia and depression.

The product is very useful for diabetics. The glycemic index of oatmeal is only 25 units, the product helps to reduce blood sugar levels.

Oatmeal for weight loss

The product is definitely recommended by nutritionists for use on a diet. Oatmeal has several beneficial properties at once.

• The powder diluted in water fills the space of the stomach. If you take a couple of tablespoons of oatmeal shortly before meals, then the feeling of hunger will decrease, and you can get enough of smaller portions of ordinary dishes.
• The fiber accelerates metabolism. With regular use, the problem of constipation goes away, food is digested quickly and without problems.
• The fiber removes toxins. During the diet, not only extra pounds go away, but also all the harmful substances that have accumulated in the body.

The benefit of the product lies in the fact that with its help you can lose several kilograms of weight in just a week and still not harm your own health.

The use of oatmeal in folk medicine

Porridge, jelly and simple decoctions based on a useful product are actively used in home health recipes. Tolokno brings medicinal benefits:

• with diseases of the liver, stomach and kidneys;
• with inflammatory processes of internal organs;
• with anemia;
• with oncological ailments;
• with diseases of the respiratory organs, for example, with tuberculosis;
• in case of metabolic failures;
• with stress and depression;
• with vitamin deficiency.

Oatmeal in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of oatmeal are manifested not only for internal, but also for external use. The product is used for making home cosmetics, it has a beneficial effect on both skin and hair.

Rejuvenating face mask

In order to soften dry skin, smooth out wrinkles and improve facial tone, you can make the following mask based on the product:

• Dilute 2 more tablespoons of oat powder with water or low-fat milk to the consistency of thick sour cream;
• distribute over previously cleansed skin and leave for a quarter of an hour.

The mask is washed off with plain water, and it is recommended to do it for maximum benefit three times a week. The properties of the product not only tighten the skin, but also saturate it with vitamins, deeply cleanse, and promote the processes of cellular renewal.

Body Scrub

Due to its structure, oatmeal is an excellent homemade scrub. It is very simple to prepare the product - you need to mix a few tablespoons of the product with a small amount of warm water until a homogeneous mixture is obtained. If desired, you can add a little ground coffee or medium-sized sea salt to the scrub.

Home scrub is rubbed into problem areas of the skin with neat circular movements, massaged for several minutes, and then washed off with water.

Nourishing hair mask

Oatmeal is useful for hair growth. It strengthens the hair roots, awakens dormant follicles, and helps regulate the oiliness of the scalp.

An effective mask can be prepared as follows:

• brew 50 g of product in boiling water;
• add 2 large spoons of olive oil and a few drops of lavender oil;
• distribute the mask over the curls from roots to ends, and then wrap hair with a film and a towel for a quarter of an hour.

The permanent result from using the product will become noticeable if you apply the mask at least twice a week.

How to cook oatmeal at home

The product can be found on the shelves of not every store. If you urgently need to take advantage of the properties of oatmeal, but it simply is not at hand, you can make the powder yourself if you have oat grains in the house.

Manufacturing technology is quite simple, although it takes some time.

• To begin with, oat grains in the right amount must be soaked in water for a day. During the day, the water needs to be changed several times - it must be absolutely fresh.
• The soaked grains are placed in a saucepan and kept for about an hour in a water bath or steamed in a slow cooker.
• Then the grains are placed in an oven preheated to 100 ° C and kept in it for about 5 hours, stirring occasionally for even heating.

After processing, the oat grains should be completely dry, light brown in color. All that remains is to place them in a coffee grinder or blender and grind them into a fine powder.

Healthy oatmeal dishes

The simplest way to use the product is by steaming in boiling water. However, oatmeal powder can be used to prepare other dishes that are no less valuable, but much more delicious.

Beef porridge for babies

Oatmeal can be given to children as a prophylaxis for gastrointestinal ailments and for the treatment of gastric disorders. Moreover, it is allowed to introduce the product into the diet from 7 months along with the first complementary foods.

Pork porridge for babies is prepared as follows:

• a glass of cold milk is poured into a small saucepan;
• 2 large spoons of powder are poured into the milk and stirred thoroughly, making sure that no lumps remain;
• put the pan on low heat and wait until the milk boils, while stirring the mixture continuously;
• the porridge is boiled for 1 minute and removed from the stove.

It only takes a few minutes to prepare an oatmeal treat for your baby. To sweeten the porridge, you can add a little sugar to it, pieces of fruit or berries will also be useful, provided that the child is already allowed to eat them and there will be no harm from this.

Oatmeal cookies

Oatmeal baked goods are very popular. A very tasty treat for children and adults - these are healthy cookies. For cooking, you need a minimum set of ingredients.

1. Break 2 fresh chicken eggs into a bowl or saucepan, add 1/3 cup sugar to them and beat well.
2. A glass of milk is poured into the sugar and eggs, a large spoonful of honey and 10 g of butter are added.
3. The dough is thoroughly mixed, then 1/2 cup of oatmeal powder and the same amount of wheat flour are poured.
4. Add a pinch of baking soda, salt and vanillin, stir the dough again.
5. If desired, put a little raisins, dried fruits or flax seeds into the blank.

Further, from the prepared dough, it remains only to form small cakes and put them in the oven preheated to 180 ° C for half an hour. The cookies will turn out to be very tasty, low-calorie and healthy.

Oatmeal Kissel

The jelly prepared on the basis of the product has a pleasant taste and useful properties. They do it quickly and very simply:

• 1 large spoonful of the product is stirred in 1/2 cup of cold milk;
• then carefully pour this mixture with 1 more glass of milk and mix thoroughly;
• put the mixture on the stove and cook for no more than 10 minutes.

If desired, sugar or honey can be added to the jelly. The main condition is that no lumps should remain in the drink.

Oatmeal pancakes

On the basis of oatmeal powder, you can make thin airy pancakes. The recipe looks like this:

• in a deep bowl, mix 2 chicken eggs, 1.5 cups of wheat flour and 4 large spoons of oatmeal;
• 1/2 cup of milk and a little water are poured into the dough to achieve a liquid consistency;
• add 3 large spoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, mix the dough again.

After that, the pancakes are baked in the usual way, pouring the dough in small portions into a preheated greased frying pan and frying on both sides.

The harm of oatmeal and contraindications to use

The properties of the product are of great benefit to the body, there is practically no harm from oatmeal. The product has only one contraindication - the presence of an individual allergy to oatmeal products.

However, when using the product, you must remember the dosages. If abused, oatmeal powder can harm the joints, since in this case its properties will negatively affect the absorption of calcium by the body.

How to choose and store oatmeal

When buying a product in a store, it is necessary to check the tightness of the bag. You also need to pay attention to the color of the product - the powder should be light or cream, if it is dark, it is expired and will cause harm. The pulp from an open bag should have a pleasant cereal smell without a bitter or musty aroma. The same applies to taste - oatmeal should not be bitter, a quality product quickly melts in the mouth.

It is recommended to store the powder not in open bags, but in glass jars or ceramic pots under a lid. The benefits of the product and valuable properties are preserved for 2 years.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of oatmeal are determined by the quality of the purchased powder or oat grains when cooked at home. If the oatmeal is not expired or spoiled, and the person is not allergic to it, the product will bring unconditional health benefits.

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