Why Choose Steel-Cut Oats
As we all know, whole grains are vital to a healthy lifestyle. Steel-cut oats offer a nuttier alternative to the rolled oats most people know.
Steel-cut oats are essential grains which are full of nutritional value, rich in B-vitamins, calcium, protein and fiber while low in sodium and unsaturated fat. In fact, just one cup of steel-cut oats contains 8g of fiber. Steel-cut oats are whole grain groats, the inner portion of the oat kernel, which have been cut into two or three pieces rather than flattened. Because of this it takes longer to digest, making us feel fuller for a longer period of time. They are a golden hue and look like chopped nuts or tiny grains of rice. Rolled oats are flake oats that have been steamed, rolled, re-steamed and toasted. Due to all of this additional processing they lose some of their fiber, nutritional value, natural taste, and texture.
According to the USDA, whole grains reduce cholesterol, high blood pressure and help prevent heart disease, cancer and diabetes. They are a rich source of magnesium, a mineral that acts as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymes, including enzymes involved in the body’s use of glucose and insulin secretion. Steel-cut oats have a lower glycemic index than instant oatmeal (42 versus 65), causing a smaller insulin spike when consumed. The exact cause of this is undetermined, but is believed to be due to a higher proportion of complex carbohydrates. Studies have indicated that when people increased their consumption of steel-cut oats to five servings (serving = one cup cooked) a week, there was a corresponding 39 percent reduction in the risk of onset of type 2 diabetes.
One of the most significant health benefits of steel-cut oats is that they help eliminate fat and cholesterol from the body. Studies show that in individuals with high cholesterol (above 220) consuming just 3 grams of soluble oat fiber per day typically lowers total cholesterol by 8-23%. This is highly significant since each 1% drop in cholesterol translates to a 2% decrease in the risk of developing heart disease.
While steel-cut oats take a little longer to cook, this recipe can be put in the crock-pot the night before and be ready for you in the morning. Make it your own by adding whatever dried fruit you love. In our home we sprinkle chopped almonds on top and add a little soy milk. Our own instant oats! Enjoy!
Overnight Oatmeal
8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats
_ cup dried cranberries
_ cup dried blueberries
_ cup dried apricots (chopped)
Pinch of salt
Combine water, oats, dried fruit and salt in a crock-pot or slow cooker. Cover and set to low for 7-8 hours.
About the Author
Why It’s Recommended to Take Vitamins C, D3, & Magnesium Together?
When it comes to your health, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, and Magnesium are remarkably nutritive allies. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, supporting a variety of functions throughout your body. Vitamin D and Calcium seamlessly work together to protect your bones. Calcium builds and maintains your bones, while Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. Calcium and Magnesium work together to provide a similar value. Magnesium keeps calcium out of the soft tissue and within the bones, where it’s needed most.
What is Vitamin C?
Let’s start with a deep dive into Vitamin C. Commonly known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is an organic compound comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. While our bodies can not produce it, it’s a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits.
In its purest form, ascorbic acid is a synthetic, white solid derived from the sugar dextrose. It can be found naturally in a variety of fruits and vegetables and is known to be an immune-boosting and curative supplement. One of its primary functions is helping the body manufacture collagen, a protein found in every person’s connective tissues, cartilage, and tendons.
We’ve heard about the benefits of Vitamin C for a long time. Discovered by biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi in the 1930s, this remarkable chemical enables the body to healthfully sustain itself and helps it efficiently use fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Centuries ago, when fresh vegetables were not always easy to find, sailors would experience fatigue, weakness, open sores, bleeding gums, loose teeth, and unusual hemorrhages beneath the skin. The condition was known as Scurvy, and in the 15th century, it ravaged sailors and low-income families, causing sickness, disability, and death. Szent-Györgyi’s won a Nobel Peace Prize for his discoveries regarding Vitamin C supplementation, which provided excellent value for the British Navy.
