Like traditional oatmeal, instant is a whole-grain, high-fiber, nutritious food , according to The American Heart Association. With flavored products, though, watch the sodium and sugar levels—aim for less than 250 mg sodium and 12 g sugar per serving. Here, three tasty, heart-healthy starts to your morning.
Is instant oatmeal as good for you as regular oatmeal?
In fact, in the USDA nutrient database, instant oatmeal possesses the same nutritional profile as regular or quick-cooking oatmeal . ... Because instant oatmeal has been processed to cook more quickly, it is also broken down and digested more quickly by your body, giving it a higher glycemic index.
Does Instant Oatmeal have health benefits?
Contrary to popular belief, instant oats have the same nutritional benefits of regular oats .
What does instant oatmeal do for your body?
Benefits include lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, protection against skin irritation and reduced constipation . In addition, they are very filling and have many properties that should make them a weight loss friendly food. At the end of the day, oats are among the healthiest foods you can eat.
What is the healthiest type of oatmeal?
“ Oat groats are the healthiest way to eat oats. Quick oats, rolled oats and steel-cut oats all start out as oat groats,” says Gentile. “Oat groats are whole oat kernels that have been cleaned and treated with heat and moisture. This increases shelf life, flavor development, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.
Does instant oatmeal make you gain weight?
Whereas instant oatmeal with a lot of sugar may lead to weight gain , homemade versions sweetened only with fruit may promote weight loss. No matter your weight goals, you can make small changes to your oatmeal to help you either gain or lose weight.
What is the difference between instant oatmeal and regular oatmeal?
Instant oats have an almost identical nutritional profile to regular oats, except for one main difference: sugar . One package of flavoured instant oats contains approximately 12 grams of sugar, compared to 1 gram found in the same amount of old-fashioned oats. They are also lower in protein due to the extra processing.
Is instant oatmeal unhealthy?
Oats are definitely healthy eats, but instant oatmeal often gets a bad wrap . A bowl of classic oatmeal packs a hearty dose of vitamins, protein and cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. ... Oats are definitely healthy eats, but instant oatmeal often gets a bad wrap.
Why is oatmeal bad for you?
Cons to eating oatmeal.
It is a grain, meaning it has all of the anti-nutrient properties that grains do . Includes phytic acid, which has been studied to strip your body from absorbing the vitamins and minerals in the oats. It is a high starch or high carbohydrate food.
Can I eat oatmeal 3 times a day?
Phase 1: Eat oatmeal for three meals each day for the first week . During this time, you should be eating only whole oats and not instant oatmeal. You can have some fruit with the oatmeal and for snacks.
Is instant oatmeal inflammatory?
“Eating whole grain oats can prevent diabetes and lower cholesterol levels, which could prevent cardiovascular disease.” Some studies show that oats have anti-inflammatory effects , Sang says, “which could prevent inflammation related to chronic disease.” Fiber is oatmeal’s main health attribute.
Is instant oatmeal high glycemic?
According to data published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, rolled oats have a glycemic load of 9 (low), while instant oats have a GL of 24 (high) .
Is Quaker instant oatmeal good for weight loss?
When it comes to losing weight, instant oatmeal is definitely not your best choice . The problem with instant oatmeal for weight loss is that it’s highly processed and has added sugars and sodium, which is certainly not what you need when trying to lose weight.
Which is better oats or oatmeal?
While steel-cut oats and rolled oats are generally viewed as some of the most nutritious oats, instant oatmeal is more divisive. ... On the other hand, less processed oats such as steel-cut oats and oat groats pack more flavor and texture, but they take much longer to cook.
How often should you eat oatmeal?
We recommend eating one serving of oatmeal every day , but the specific answer to the question “How much oatmeal should I eat a day?” ultimately comes down to the type of oats you choose.
Which is healthier rolled oats or steel-cut oats?
Metric per metric, rolled oats and steel cut oats are almost the same when it comes to nutritional value. However, steel cut oats beat out rolled oats in two areas, fiber content and density, which make steel cut oats the best bang for your nutritional buck.
