Nutrition In Oatmeals
Other Elements Contributing To Oatmeal Nutrition - What else contributes to oatmeal nutrition? A cup of oatmeal, about 3.5 ounces, contains 180 milligrams of magnesium, nearly half the recommended daily requirement of this extremely important, in fact essential, element. In that cup you'll also get 5 milligrams of iron, 40% of your daily needs, plus healthy amounts of carbohydrates, fat, protein, and Vitamin B9 (folate). The protein content of oats, specifically the groats, is in fact higher than for any other grain. As a source of protein, oats ranks nearly as high as soy, which in turn, ranks with meat and dairy products as top sources of protein. Given these nutrients, and given the fact that oatmeal is good for your heart and helpful in losing weight, a cup of oatmeal as a regular part of your breakfast gets you off to a healthy start every day. And you won't get hungry before lunch. Besides the benefits of oatmeal nutrition, the "stick to the ribs" quality of oatmeal makes it an ideal breakfast food.
The best known of the oat cereals are Cheerios, and where oatmeal is concerned, and Quaker Oats, still a favorite of many. Though they have been around for quite a few years, granola based cereals and muesli, from Europe, are relative newcomers to the United States, if you can call being here 40 years considered as being a newcomer. But the more familiar cereals have been with us much longer. Muesli is basically oatmeal nutrition in a package, with some other highly nutritional foods added. It usually consists of rolled oats in combination with bits of various dried fruits and nuts. Muesli stores very well, and is generally eaten with milk or yogurt. The original muesli did not contain the sugar that often is found in today's products, but varieties can be found which contain less sugar or none, and honey or fresh fruits can be used to add sweetness. The rolled oats remain the centerpiece however as far as muesli being a healthy food is concerned.
It was mentioned above that an oatmeal diet may not be too bad of an idea, a healthy and relatively risk-free means of losing weight. An even better approach would be a diet based on muesli. You would get all the benefits of oatmeal nutrition plus quite a bit more. The nuts found in muesli contain omega-3 fatty acids, definitely beneficial to the nervous system, and the fruits are a source of additional nutritive elements and are, like oats, an excellent source of fiber. A diet based on non-sweetened muesli (no sugar or honey or very low amounts) results in a low glycemic index which is helpful in control of diabetes.
Have A Power Packed Breakfast, With A Cookie - So, add a cup of oatmeal to the breakfast table, at least on occasion, or have a bowl of granola or muesli. Sugar-free cocoa mix goes nicely with oatmeal. There is even a recipe out there which calls for adding a spoonful of peanut butter to your cup of cooked oatmeal, topped of with a few dried cherries. Whether that appeals to you or not, it doesn't hurt at all to experiment a little.
You might even come up with a formula that takes oatmeal nutrition to a whole new level! Or, at least adds a bit of spice to your morning meal. Even an occasional granola bar will work to your benefit as will a mouthful or two of trail mix containing raw oats. And to top it off, reward yourself with an oatmeal cookie or two every once in a while, even during breakfast. Goes great with coffee.