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Does Oatmeal Reduce Cholesterol Levels In The Body?
Does oatmeal reduce cholesterol in our blood and if so how? Firstly, we are aware that we need to maintain a low cholesterol level for a healthy diet. And we also know the types of food that we have to eat, foods that have a high content of fiber. Research has shown that oatmeal helps with cholesterol levels.
A high cholesterol level can be very dangerous and is associated with many health problems. LDL cholesterol clogs up the walls of the arteries narrowing the passage of the blood flow. This, in turn, increases the blood pressure leading to heart related risks such as strokes and heart attacks. It is very important to monitor your cholesterol level for a healthy heart and blood pressure.
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.
It is the high fiber content in the oatmeal that helps with the cholesterol. It is a soluble fiber which means it absorbs water and becomes a thick gooey substance during ingestion in the intestines.
This gelatinous quality of the ingested fiber is associated with trapping LDL cholesterol, which thickens the walls of the arteries. This substance prevents the LDL cholesterol from being absorbed into the blood and goes out with waste.
A lot of studies have been carried out on the effects of a high fiber diet including oatmeal. The results are highly supportive of the effectiveness of the reduction in cholesterol levels even though the processes are not yet clearly understood by the scientific community.
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.
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