Oatmeal Does a Body Good

Oats are the fourth leading grain in the United States, note the authors of "The Condensed Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." Oats are popular for many reasons, as they can be turned into a variety of different oatmeal recipes, including old-fashioned, quick-cooking and instant. Consider the advantages of eating oatmeal and you may find yourself reaching for the oats more often than before.

Nutrients

The primary advantage to adding oatmeal to your diet is the high nutritional value it contains. One cup of instant oatmeal or oatmeal made with old-fashioned oats contains 166 calories and only 3.5 g of total fat, none of which are saturated. Your bowl of oatmeal will also supply you with about 6 g of protein, 4 g of fiber, 2.11 mg of iron, 164 mg of potassium, 2.34 mg of zinc, 14 mcg of folate, and trace amounts of thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.

Health Benefits

Including oatmeal as part of your diet will benefit your health in a variety of ways. As noted in "The Condensed Encyclopedia of Healing Foods," oatmeal contains beta-glucan, which binds the bile in your body and removes cholesterol from your body when you eliminate feces. This may help you lower your total blood cholesterol level. The fiber that oatmeal contains can also help you lower your cholesterol. Eating oatmeal on a regular basis may also reduce your risk of heart disease.

Inexpensive

Instant oatmeal costs less than $1 per serving, and purchasing old-fashioned oats in bulk is even more thrifty. If you are looking for ways to improve your diet while also saving money, oatmeal is an ingredient that is both nutritious and cheap. A bowl of oatmeal is less money than a bowl of most brand-name breakfast cereals. Many supermarkets and health food stores offer oats in bulk, which helps you save money by allowing you to purchase only the quantity you need.

Readily Available

A final advantage to oatmeal is that it is readily available. Oatmeal can be purchased at supermarket chains and health food stores around the country. It is available in raw form and quick-cooking varieties. There are many flavors of instant oatmeal offered as well, including cinnamon, maple and ones with fruit added. The fact that oatmeal is so easy to obtain adds to the nutritional and cost advantages of oatmeal.

What are you waiting for?