When it comes to breakfast food, you can't do significantly better than oatmeal. At the time I lived in Great Britain it always went by the name of porridge, and I am sure it is more popular there than within the United States. It has a long history there, as it was the food of peasants of that area, especially in Ireland and Scotland.
When these areas weren't blessed with a wealth of healthy natural types of foods such as we find in the Mediterranean area, having oatmeal as a basic was vitally critical. Dietary fiber will be on the top of the list of nutrients, and the bonus here with oatmeal is the combination of about 50/50 soluble and insoluble fibers. Each of them are really important to our health for suitable digestion. It will be moreover thought to be heart-healthy due to its tocotrienols, which are antioxidant compounds which inhibit cholesterol synthesis resulting in lower blood cholesterol.
Additional benefits to having soluble dietary fiber in the body is how it controls insulin levels and blood glucose, therefore stopping insulin spikes and diabetic problems. It works by slowing down digestion by forming a gel in the intestines as it becomes absorbed by water. This gel is digested more slowly, prolonging the length of time the carbohydrates become taken into the body. By absorbing slower large spikes of sugar levels in the blood stream will be averted.
Which takes us to our initial query: what is better, steel cut or rolled oats. The solution can be from an absorption standpoint, we are going to favor the steel cut oats. They are essentially the same oats as rolled, but it is just how they're processed that produces the differentiation. Because steel-cut are denser, they will take more time to digest as opposed to rolled oats. And generally speaking, the more any food is processed, or the less natural it is, the less healthful it will be for you. The minimal quantity of processing that goes into steel-cut make them the more healthy choice.
The downside (and it is not much of a draw back while healthiness is concerned) is that they are somewhat difficult to prepare. Steel cut oats take somewhat longer to make, but we think it's well worth the time. Combine 3 cups of water, one cup of steel cut oats, and a small amount of salt to bring out the naturally nutty flavor.
Similar to cooking rice or quinoa, bring to a boil, then cut the heat back to let it simmer without covering the pan. Stir regularly then at about the 20 minute mark begin checking the progress of the oats. The more time you permit it cook at this point, the less chewy it is going to be.
Finish the oatmeal off with some fruit, fresh or dried, or toasted nuts. Cinnamon additionally works well, as does a spoonful of maple syrup or honey. If you are cooking breakfast for just one or two individuals, it is possible to prepare a bigger amount and store it in the refrigerator for as much as a week. Just microwave it for only a minute, mix in some milk and heat for another minute.
Author Resource:
It has been known for centuries that oatmeal is one of the healthiest and heartiest of all breakfast foods. Read more about healthy foods and how they combine to add to a diet that keeps us fit on our website http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/ . Rich Carroll is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.
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