Why Oatmeal Can Be Good for Weight Loss

Oatmeal is basically made from oats, a whole-grain food full of minerals, vitamins, and other important nutrients. In addition, oats help you manage cholesterol levels and improve your digestion, making them a great dietary meal.

5-Minute Crafts will tell you the reasons why oatmeal is a good choice for losing weight along with some recommendations to consider when making it at home.

Warning: Keep in mind that you should always ask for medical advice if you are seeking to change your diet.

Why oatmeal can be good for weight loss:

1. It can make you feel full.

Eating filling foods can help you consume fewer calories and, as a consequence, lose weight.

Oats are one of these foods. They contain beta-glucan, a soluble fiber that forms a thick solution in your stomach. This component slows down the time it takes the stomach to empty and increases the production of the satiety hormone peptide, YY (PYY).

Additionally, the amount of fiber in a bowl of oatmeal makes your body absorb its nutrients more slowly. So, if eaten in the morning, it can help you have more energy throughout the day.

2. It can improve blood sugar control.

Oats may lower blood sugar levels, which can be helpful in people who are over their normal weight or have type 2 diabetes. The beta-glucans in oats can decrease the glucose response after a meal, making sugar take longer to get to the bloodstream.

Therefore, a bowl of oatmeal in the morning can make the sense of fullness last longer, decreasing the feeling of hunger and the need to snack between meals, quite the opposite of what high post-meal blood sugar causes.

Ways to eat oatmeal for weight loss:

• Although oatmeal can help you lose weight, its effects on your body can depend on how it is prepared. For example, oatmeal with high-calorie toppings, such as peanut butter or chocolate chips, may cause weight gain. On the other hand, if it is made with water, fruit, and very little sugar, it can be an excellent choice for weight loss.
• It’s important to watch your serving sizes of oatmeal in order to avoid consuming more calories than needed. Read all the nutrition labels on each ingredient carefully and use a cup or scale to measure the quantities you will use.

• Instant varieties of oatmeal are usually high in sugar and low in fiber. Therefore, when trying to lose weight, it’s best to opt for rolled or steel-cut oats since they are all the opposite. In addition, they are less processed. If you still prefer instant packages, choose plain products with no flavor in order to control the amount of sugar you consume.