8 reasons oats are best morning superfood for energy and health

Oats are packed with fiber, protein, antioxidants, and essential nutrients that fuel your body, protect your heart, and boost energy levels throughout the day. (Image: Pexels)

Having a good breakfast can dictate the tone for your energy, concentration, and mood throughout the day. While many quick breakfast choices are high in sugar and low in nutrients, oats are a perfect example of this super low-cost option. This unassuming grain staple of cuisines around the world for centuries is loved for its versatility, warmth and taste as well as its incredible healthy credentials.

The complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, soluble fibre, vitamins, and minerals, as well as health-supporting antioxidant compounds in oats, make oats an excellent food for morning sustained energy. Oats slowly release energy, which helps you remain alert and full for a longer time and unlike the high-sugar breakfasts, it does not produce rapid spikes and drops in blood sugar.

Nikita Arora, a popular nutritionist from Delhi and Founder of Wellnourish, says, "Breakfast is an easy yet powerful gear that turns action from inside of your home, therefore oats in your morning routine with less prep time and high fuel value is one of the most efficient ways to experience healthy energy, better health and a productive day.

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8 health benefits of oats for energy and well-being

1. High in Fibre

Being a great source of fibre, oats are particularly high in beta-glucan, which is a soluble type of fibre that delays digestion. It releases energy slowly, meaning no sugar spikes and crashes. And this fibre aids in keeping you feeling full, so you are less likely to crave a mid-morning snack, too. Fibre also helps maintain a healthy digestive system (to keep constipation and bloating at bay).

2. Complex Carbohydrates

Simple carbs break down much more quickly than the complex carbs contained in oats. This slow digestion helps to avoid any sudden blood sugar rises, keeping our energy levels stable during the morning. Oats provide your body with a long-lasting source of fuel to keep you energized and focused. Adding oats to your diet means you will not suffer from lethargy or sluggishness because of high-energy sugar breakfast and will instead get energy through steady, sustained energy release.

3. Rich in Plant-Based Protein

Oats are a rich source of plant proteins, and their high-quality amino acids make them a perfect muscle-reparing and building breakfast. Protein is important for healthy muscles, cellular repair, and general health. Oats are a brilliant way to start the day because not only do you fill up on lasting energy in the form to fuel for your body until lunch, but you also give your body a healthy dose of protein to keep the energy going far longer.

4. Low Glycemic Index

Oats are a grain known for their low glycemic index (GI), causing gradual absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. By releasing glucose more slowly into the bloodstream, blood sugar levels remain balanced, energy levels are constant, and the chance of sudden drops is reduced. Foods with a low GI are great for regulating glucose levels throughout the day, which can be particularly helpful for those with insulin resistance or diabetes — therefore, the slow-digesting oats are beneficial to keep blood sugar levels constant.

5. Rich in Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Oats are more than just an amazing source of fibre, and carbohydrates. They are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. Magnesium, iron and several B vitamins are all involved in the process of energy production. This means that they facilitate a body’s ability to convert food into usable energy. As a result, when you consume oats regularly, you stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during the day. Eating oatmeal in the morning will supply you with all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed in your daily diet and ensure your well-being.

6. Antioxidant-Level Food

The morning oatmeal is a great product enriched with natural antioxidants, among which avenanthramides deserve special attention. These antioxidants are very powerful in an anti-inflammatory way. They also suppress the oxidative process, which leads to fatigue and low energy levels. The avenanthramides also stimulate good blood flow, which leads to high-energy levels and excellent stamina. Eating oats in the morning will ensure you that you are distributing a certain dose of antioxidants during the day, which will protect you from the damage of the free radicals during the day.

7. Homey Oats and Hearts

It has to be mentioned that oats were always praised for their beneficial impact on the heart. Beta-glucan fiber, found in oats, beats cholesterol. As we all know, a healthy heart is one of the most important conditions for keeping your energy levels balanced and the body functioning normally. Once you include oats in your diet, you are sure to keep your heart healthy. In your turn, the heart will keep you in good shape and maintain the balance of energy.

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8. Versatile and Easy to Prepare

Oats are one of the most versatile foods that you can have. They can be eaten in many forms, whether you enjoy plain oatmeal, overnight oats, or smoothies and baked treats made with oats. They are quick and easy to make, which means they are a great healthy choice on busy mornings. There are endless possibilities on how you can eat oats, so you can switch up your breakfast game with different flavours and configurations while also benefiting from the many health benefits oats have to offer.

Whether for a bowl of oatmeal or home-baked Bran Breads, adding oats to your breakfast provides its vast health benefits, which include sustained energy release, better gut health, enhanced cognitive skills, and heart health. Oats are the ideal fuel for your day, and easy to prepare as well; they are a great option for a healthy breakfast.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.