Oats belongs to the family Poaceae under species Avena sativa. Oats or oatmeal being rich in fiber is packed with calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, iron, selenium, and potassium.

Being full of nutritional value and good in taste you can opt it for breakfast as its high fiber content will keep you full for a long period of time. Its affordability and rich nutrient content makes oats the perfect meal for those who are watching the weighing scale. Oatmeal accompanied with regular exercise and a controlled diet can boost your weight loss, increase the nutrition in the body and many other health benefits.

WHAT MAKES OATS A CHOICE FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Oats is one of the meals that support the digestive tract unlike certain food that tend to slow the metabolism and delay the rate of emptying.

Beta-glucan’s presence in oats has the quality to increase the resistance of food movement in the small intestine and thus keeps the person away from eating more. The beta-glucan fiber in the oats  impact the hunger hormones and increases the satiety level which means a person may feel full for a long time. The food moves slowly and so there is more time for digestion and absorption of the nutrients.

Apart from the small intestine, oats have a digestive impact on the large intestine as well. The fermentation of beta glucagon in oats maintains the intestinal flora and provides energy to the intestine.

These two aspects of the oats explain why oats is a popular food of choice for people looking for weight loss.

ADOPT THESE FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Eating oats can enhance weight loss only when following things are kept in mind –

Avoid added sugar – Do not add sugar or any form of artificial sweeteners. If you wish to have sweet oats you can add berries to it. it will serve as a sweetener and will add fiber.

Avoid flavored oats – Flavored Oats has additional calories and low nutritional level. Always go for plain oats.

Replace your snacks with healthy oats – You can have roasted oats mixed with dry fruits and enjoy the healthy snacks between your meals.

Avoid using high calorie toppings to your meal.

Oats being a popular breakfast can be made in various ways. It can be consumed in the form of smoothies, porridge, muffins etc. You can easily customize it according to your need and taste. Consume an ideal amount of oats in a day as too much of it might have adverse effects.

A WORD OF ADVICE 

As discussed above, oatmeal works great for weight loss however it is important to take it in a fixed quantity and should not be the only source of nutrients. If taken under correct guidance and diet plan it enhances weight loss.