Health and Fitness: Is oatmeal good for weight loss?

Oats, it’s a cereal grain and it is growing from grass plants. It takes a major role in weight loss; it contains a high nutritious value and keeps you healthy.

As the first month of 2017 is upon us, there are many of you knew parents that have already been thinking about healthy new habits you can still in your family.

Well, oatmeal and in particular, it’s the idea that this particular breakfast grain is a superfood for weight loss.

The evidence points to this fact, especially since some studies have shown that consuming it twice a day can help to reduce body fat in a short space of time.

What is Oatmeal and where did it come from?

Oatmeal is actually made of grain that’s been soaked or sprouted, then ground and cooked. It’s one of the best sources of soluble fibre, which plays a role in keeping your digestive system regular.

The good news is that it’s one of the best sources of protein on the market, especially if you eat it with milk. If you’ve never tried it before, you should try eating oatmeal on its own first, just to get the basics of how it makes you feel.

In 2021/2022, the global production volume of oats amounted to approximately 22.68 million metric tons. In 2021, Russia was one of the leading producers of oats in the world.

It’s also really easy to make at home. You can buy pre-cooked oatmeal in health food stores or even in some supermarkets. You can add nuts or seeds of your choice to make it even more nutritious.

However, if you decide to try oatmeal for weight loss, then you should really focus on the more specific ingredients such as oats and milk.

Some of the other items in a supermarket ready-made oatmeal might even contain hidden fats and sugars that can slow you down when you want to lose weight.

Oatmeal vs Flax

When it comes to the question of oatmeal vs flax, oatmeal has some advantages as it’s easier to digest, you can enjoy it in many ways, it’s low in saturated fats and it’s a fantastic food for weight loss.

However, there’s one big difference between them – you can have a whole bowl of flaxseed in one sitting, while oats only contain around 10 calories and around a teaspoon of oats, meaning you’ll need to eat more of them for every bowl.

This means that you’ll burn the same number of calories more slowly with oats than with flaxseed.

Flaxseed also contains fibre, although it’s not as good as oats at making your body feel full. Flaxseed is more filling as it’s a nut-based seed that has omega-3 oils and a healthy dose of fibre.

It also contains zinc, which is great for the immune system, as well as vitamins B and E, all of which are also great for your metabolism.

The reason why you would eat the flax seeds instead of the oats is that they contain a lot more of the same nutrients but in smaller quantities. If you have a sweet tooth, then you’ll want to avoid the sugary flakes in flaxseed.

They’re usually made with molasses or honey, which can increase their calorie count of them.

Oatmeal vs Flax with Chia Seeds

Since flax seeds aren’t cheap, you may also want to try them together with oats, so that you don’t have to eat as many of them. When you add chia seeds, you not only get a great alternative, but also a great boost to your weight loss diet.

It’s easy to include these seeds in your weight loss diet, but you must remember to buy your chia seeds with a high concentration of Omega 3, as these can be expensive.

To make it easy for you, I’ve linked a list of online stores below that can give you good-quality, healthy sources of chia seeds.

If you eat your oatmeal with chia seeds, then you get a good mix of fibre, protein, and healthy fats, but without all of the bad chemicals and added sugars in processed foods.

When you add chia seeds to your oatmeal, they also make the oatmeal thicker, so you get a more filling meal.

Oatmeal is a whole food, meaning that it doesn’t have anything artificial in it, and even if you try to get natural flax seeds, they’re still made from a mixture of ingredients and pesticides.

The best way to make sure you’re eating the best flaxseed without increasing your calories is to buy flaxseed oil, which you can put in your cooking, baking, and even salad dressings.

You can also add flaxseed oil to your smoothies and to make you feel fuller for longer. If you eat oatmeal, then you can use flaxseed oil on it, but it’s not the same as oatmeal on its own.

What should you eat with Oatmeal?

If you want to go on a super healthy diet, then you need to make sure you’re eating a variety of foods from different meals. This is so that you’re getting the vitamins and minerals that you need to help your body run correctly.

If you’re looking for a natural way to eat your oatmeal, then you’ll be glad to know that there are lots of ways to eat it, from milkshakes to adding cinnamon.

Here are a few other foods that go very well with oatmeal:

Vegetable and fruit salads

Fresh salads are always very good and they make your oatmeal more nutritious and healthier. The good news is that you can find them in any supermarket.

Whole-wheat pasta

You can find a lot of good sources of fibre and protein in your diet. Whole wheat pasta is one of the best sources, as it contains a healthy mix of protein, fat, and fibre.

Grains

If you want to include some grains into your diet, then you should know that these are an important part of a weight loss diet. They can help you stay fuller for longer, so you don’t overeat and they’re also great for your health.

If you want a more substantial meal, then you can buy pasta and you’ll probably want to cook it until it’s al dente.

Fruit

Fruits and vegetables are also great sources of fibre and vitamins C and A. You can eat the fruit in your oatmeal, or add it to a fruit salad.

Mushrooms

These are another great source of protein and fibre. They’re also a good source of iron, folate, and B vitamins.

Dietary fat

The only way that oatmeal can be more nutritious is by including fat. Some of the best sources of dietary fat that are perfect for you are vegetable oils, nuts, and dairy.

What’s the Best Oatmeal for Weight Loss?

You can make all of the different types of oats and the way you eat them can affect how they make you feel. In my view, instant oatmeal tastes horrible and I would never eat it.

However, you’ll find that most supermarkets will have ‘quick oats’ or even ‘instant oatmeal’, which is pre-cooked. This is one of the easiest types of oatmeal to make, and you won’t have to spend a lot of time or effort cooking it.

The good news is that if you cook it for just a few minutes, then the vitamins and minerals stay inside the oats. If you cook your oats for too long, then you can find that they start to turn to starch.

If you cook your oats to a very thick consistency, then you can get yourself a bowl that’s good for breakfast. You should eat your oatmeal as soon as possible after cooking it, as the nutrients are easily lost if you keep the oatmeal warm.

However, if you’re worried about going on a low-calorie diet, you can always try different ways to eat oats. If you add a little bit of milk, you’ll get an even more filling meal that’s better for you.

So, you can enjoy your meal. Don’t hesitate to choose the good one to eat. Oats are very cheap and also delicious food to maintain your weight and fitness, go for it in your routine.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. I sincerely hope that you found the information provided to be helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. Your support is truly appreciated and means so much to me!