We’re sure that, like us, you know how delicious oats are but you might not know just how good they are for you. As part of the wholegrain family, oats are very high in fibre and contain a huge number of health benefits – one of the many reasons why we love our oaty products. So, do you want to know why oats are the best high fibre food? We’ve hand-picked a few reasons why, so let’s get started!
What makes oats so special?
We think that oats are pretty great (ok, we might be biased) and especially in terms of their health benefits. The first reason that oats stand out from other high fibre foods is because they contain a special kind of fibre called beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is known to reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of heart disease and has also been proven to improve your immune system’s response to bacterial infection. But that’s not all!
The second reason that oats are special is that they are a source of both soluble and insoluble fibre. This is great because the human body can partially digest soluble fibre which binds with nasty cholesterol called LDL in your intestine and takes it out of your body, keeping your arteries lovely and clear. So you can feel virtuous the next time you nibble on a Nairn’s oatcake, knowing that you are effectively detoxing! Meanwhile, insoluble fibre cannot be absorbed by the human body and so it helps to keep your stomach and bowels happy and healthy.
What other benefits are in oats?
Maybe you didn’t know, but oats are absolutely bursting with nutrients like calcium, magnesium and folate so every bite of porridge or crumb of oatcake is doing you good! What’s more; high fibre foods, such as oats and oatcakes are packed full of complex carbohydrates which means that they can help to keep you going and leave you less tempted by sugary snacks.
Another reason to opt for oats is that they release their energy far slower than foods that are lower in fibre, meaning that you won’t suffer from a sugar high and crash and you can keep going all day long. So basically you’ll have more energy, be fuller and know that you’re nourishing your body! And as our oaty products are so delicious and versatile, why would you want anything else?
Can I combine oats with other high fibre foods?
Of course you can! Oats are such a versatile food that you’ll be spoilt for choice. For example, why not fill up your kids’ lunch boxes with yummy oatcakes and delicious hummus? Chickpeas and other pulses, beans, nuts, fruit and wholegrains are all sources of fibre so it’s easy to create lots of tasty, healthy combinations. Why not scatter some almonds and blueberries on your porridge or slather our organic oatcakes enriched with oat bran with your favourite nut butter and sliced banana? The possibilities are endless.
So there you are; a selection of reasons why we believe that oats are the best high fibre food out there. We hope that you’ll agree and enjoy our range of tasty oaty snacks while knowing that you’re doing your body a whole lot of good! If you’re still curious, why not check out our Benefits of Oats section for more healthy facts?
