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Page 1 of 12 Why are all the “oatmeal eaters” I know in fantastic shape? Is oatmeal some type of wonder-drug secret that no one has let me in on? Just so we are all on the same page, I am not talking about instant oatmeal. You know, the stuff that comes in those little packets. Apple-Cinnamon, Maple, etc. I am talking about the real stuff – oat flakes. That big cardboard caninster you see at the supermarket. Translation: Quaker Oats. Why oatmeal, and why is it so good?
According to the American Cancer Society: 1. Insoluble fiber's cancer-fighting properties are due to the fact that it attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity. 2. Soluble fiber may reduce LDL cholesterol without lowering HDL cholesterol. LDL is bad; HDL is good. 3. Soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch. This may be beneficial to diabetics because, when you slow down the digestion of starch, you avoid the sharp rises in your blood sugar level that usually occur following a meal. 4. It has been found that those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease, a disease that is currently widespread in the United States. 5. The phytochemicals in oat may also have cancer-fighting properties. 6. Oats are a good source of many nutrients including vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oats are also a good source of protein.The difference between insoluble and soluble fiber, besides the foods that they come from, is what they do in your body.Insoluble fiber's main role is that it makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation. Soluble fiber breaks down as it passes through the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps some substances related to high cholesterol, thus reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream.Oatmeal has a pretty bland taste, which makes it hard for the average person to consume every morning. Any "oatmeal eaters" out there who swear by this stuff? (Yes, Natalie, we know you "heart" oatmeal).
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