Can Oatmeal Reduce Cholesterol Levels?

January 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

So does oatmeal reduce cholesterol in the body? We know that it is very important to have a low cholesterol intake in our diet and there many different foods that help you achieve that. Studies have shown that oatmeal does help significantly reduce the level of cholesterol you have in your blood.

There are many reasons to why the amount of cholesterol should concern you. A high level of cholesterol in your blood causes many health problems. These include thickening the arteries, which puts a pressure on the normal blood circulation. As a result, this affects the heart adversely leading to high blood pressure and other heart problems.

Oatmeal is roughly ground oats that are included in many foods, mostly in cereals and breakfast foods such as muesli. It is a complex carbohydrate that breaks down slowly in your body. The sugar is released into the blood slowly and steadily providing you with energy over a longer time. This release of sugar slowly is very helpful for people suffering from diabetes.

Oatmeal is high in fiber and it is this quality that reduces cholesterol in the blood. Oatmeal is a soluble fiber and that means it is able to dissolve in water. This happens in the intestines after the oats are ingested.

This substance gets in the way of the LDL cholesterol from being passed onto the bloodstream as it is absorbed by the soluble fiber. Eventually, like fiber this goes out as waste from the body.

A lot of research has been conducted to see the effects of soluble fiber in our diet. Scientists are not yet exactly sure how the process works but research has shown that a fiber-based diet reduces cholesterol.

Going by that, it is still very beneficial to increase your oatmeal intake which is not too difficult. Most cereals will include oats. You may use it in preparing other foods especially in baked items.

You should also remember that not every product that has the word ‘oat’ in it’s name actually contain oatmeal and is therefore good for you. The best example for this is oatmeal cookies that are basically made up of sugar and fat. So, always check the label for the level of soluble fiber in the product before buying.

Visit the Cholesterol Scoop for more information on Cholesterol Chart.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/can-oatmeal-reduce-cholesterol-levels-1685685.html

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Eat Oatmeal – Nature’s Miracle Cholesterol Lowering Food

December 2, 2009 · Posted in cholesterol foods · Comment 

If you are looking for a cholesterol lowering food that has been clinically proven to lower your cholesterol, look no further than the oat. Oats are nature’s cholesterol lowering miracle food. You could even call it the “superfood” of the healthy heart world.

Oatmeal is a soluble fiber and also considered a complex carbohydrate. This means that oatmeal and other oat foods are digested slower than other types of low-quality carbohydrates. This makes oatmeal a good addition to any diet. But what makes it so effective to lower your cholesterol?

Because oatmeal is a soluble fiber it helps to reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol which is absorbed by your body. Have you ever made a bowl of instant oatmeal? If you have, you have probably noticed that the oatmeal thickens as it absorbs the water. It works the same way in your intestines – the oatmeal absorbs the LDL cholesterol to keep your LDL level in check.

You can find oats in a number of different foods. You probably more commonly associate oats with cold breakfast cereals and oatmeal itself. However, you can also find oats in breads and grits. Oats can also be ground into a powder and be used to create other breads like bagels and bread loaves. Read more

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