\u201cSamuel Johnson (1709 \u2013 1784) defined oat as \u2018a grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.\u2019 Whereupon, Patrick Murray, 5th Lord Elibank (1703 \u2013 1778), replied: \u2018Yes, and where else will you see such horses and men?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n About a decade ago, when we were in our twenties, things were a lot simpler.<\/p>\n Our daily marching orders involved sleeping, eating, working out (sometimes twice a day), eating, training clients, eating, writing books and articles, eating some more\u2026wash, rinse, and repeat.<\/p>\n These days, everything is more complicated\u2014even eating.<\/p>\n Everywhere you turn, there\u2019s a new food on the \u201csuper-food\u201d block and if you\u2019re trying to keep up with the latest diet fad, good luck.<\/p>\n While we don\u2019t disagree that there\u2019s a boatload of healthy foods and effective diets out there, we\u2019ll be the first to admit that trying to keep up can leave you in a state of paralysis by analysis.<\/p>\n Say what?<\/strong><\/p>\n Simply put, when you\u2019re in a state of information overload, sometimes it can be really difficult\u2014even terrifying\u2014to make a decision and take action.<\/p>\n Perhaps not much better, you may end up jumping from one program to another, which is usually a surefire recipe for failure. Or best case scenario, you\u2019ll get a taste of success without ever knowing what\u2019s actually working.<\/p>\n In our vast experience coaching clients, there are a few factors that separate the people who are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off from the rest of the pack.<\/p>\n Some of the factors may be obvious, such as high levels of physical activity, social support, accountability, a deadline, and a meaningful incentive.<\/p>\n However, one thing that may surprise you is that the most \u201csuccessful losers\u201d (today\u2019s oxymoron of the day) are incredibly consistent with their eating patterns and food choices.<\/p>\n In other words, we notice that people who are best at losing weight and keeping it off pretty much eat the same things, day in and day out.<\/p>\n Guess what? That\u2019s not just our observation.<\/p>\n Scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals come to the exact same conclusion and we all know that if it\u2019s published in a scientific journal, to borrow a phrase from former Vice President Dick Cheney, \u201cIt\u2019s a true fact.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In all seriousness, many studies have been conducted looking at the habits of folks who\u2019ve lost weight and kept it off.<\/p>\n After all, while few people will tell you that weight loss is \u201ceasy,\u201d the main challenge that people face is long-term weight maintenance.<\/p>\n While there several key habits, the one that may be the most surprising is that successful losers generally eat a diet with very limited variety. In other words, they pretty eat the same foods every day.<\/p>\n Even though they say that variety may be the spice of life, there\u2019s no question that food variety promotes increased food and caloric intake.<\/p>\n So, when it comes to nutrition for healthy living and weight management, restricting variety and keeping things consistent and simple may be the real recipe for success.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what made us think back to about ten years ago when everything was simpler, including nutrition.<\/p>\n We ate the same things day in and day out, and that worked pretty darn well for us and our coaching clients.<\/p>\n While we focused on eating lean proteins, lots of veggies, some fruit, and healthy fats, there is one food in particular that was a staple for us that we feel has been pushed aside by all the latest and greatest \u201csuperfoods\u201d and \u201cancient grains\u201d: OATS.<\/p>\n Oats, when prepared properly, eaten at the right time, and combined with the right foods, is delicious and nutritious.<\/p>\n\r\n You've probably been told over and over again that \"breakfast is the most important meal of the day\", but truth is, there are ELEVEN specific breakfast foods that you absolutely MUST avoid if you ever want to have a flat stomach.<\/p>\n You see, these rogue breakfast foods wreak havoc on your body's fat-burning hormones and quickly bring weight loss to a dead stop -- even though you're trying to eat healthy! Don't fall victim to these waist-expanding \"healthy\" breakfast foods any longer:<\/p>\n => The 11 WORST Breakfast Foods Known to Man<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n That\u2019s why we wanted to dedicate an entire article to oats (known scientifically as Avena sativa), which are arguably one of the healthiest whole grains on the planet.<\/p>\n Heck, because we don\u2019t have any evidence that there are grains on any other planets in our solar system, we\u2019d go so far as to say that they\u2019re one of the healthiest whole grains in our solar system.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a bold claim that we stand behind!<\/p>\n Oats have a well-balanced nutritional composition. Oats are a good source of high quality, smart carbs, fiber, protein (including a good amino acid balance), and minerals.<\/p>\n A 100-gram serving of dry, uncooked oats provides the following:<\/p>\n In addition to boasting quite the nutritional profile, what many people don\u2019t recognize is that oats are packed with antioxidants.<\/p>\n In fact, while the soluble fiber in oats, called \u03b2-glucan (which we\u2019ll talk about more in a moment), gets the majority of the spotlight, the antioxidants in oats also provide substantial health benefits.<\/p>\n The main antioxidant phytochemicals in oats include:<\/p>\n While those phytonutrients are common in other foods, oats are especially well known for a unique group of antioxidants called avenanthramides (AVA), which have been reported to have antioxidant activity 10 \u2013 30 times greater than other phenolic antioxidants.<\/p>\n In other words, AVA pack quite the antioxidant punch.<\/p>\n AVA may also help promote a healthy inflammatory response through anti-inflammatory properties and by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory compounds.<\/p>\n Not only that, AVA may help lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow.<\/p>\n All in all, oats are more than just your \u201crun of the mill\u201d (pun intended) grain.<\/p>\n They\u2019re packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which protect the body from damaging free radicals.<\/p>\n Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants can help support healthy aging by protecting you from excessive oxidative stress, which is plays a major role in seemingly all health-related issues.<\/p>\n Oats are a good source of fiber and in particular, they are packed with a very special type of soluble fiber called oat \u03b2-glucan, which has numerous health benefits.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s put it this way: If fiber is a nutrition all-star (which it is), then oat \u03b2-glucan would be nominated for the MVP (or maybe we should say MVF\u2026for Most Valuable Fiber) award.<\/p>\n For example, thanks to oat \u03b2-glucan, you\u2019ll often see FDA-approved claims like the following on oatmeal packaging:\u00a0 Oats may help reduce the risk of heart disease<\/p>\n More specifically, research shows that a daily intake of at least 3 grams per day of soluble oat \u03b2-glucan can lower the risk of coronary heart disease.<\/p>\n As a point of reference, the oat \u03b2-glucan content in oats ranges from about 2.3 \u2013 8.5 grams per 100gram portion.<\/p>\n You can find out about how much \u03b2-glucan is in your favorite oatmeal by looking at the soluble fiber content posted on the Nutrition Facts Panel.<\/p>\n If your oatmeal doesn\u2019t list the amount of soluble fiber, a good rule of thumb is that oat \u03b2-glucan makes up about 50% of the total fiber content.<\/p>\n In other words, if a serving of oats contains 4 grams of fiber, a pretty good estimate of its \u03b2-glucan content would be 2 grams.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve barely scratched the surface on oat \u03b2-glucan, and we\u2019ll be coming back to it in a moment.<\/p>\n When we say \u201cstarchy carbs,\u201d what do you think of? Potatoes, rice, bread, cereal, and other grains, right? Since we\u2019re talking about oats, they might have even come to mind too.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like most people, there may even be a negative (albeit unnecessary) connotation with starchy carbs.<\/p>\n But hear us out.<\/p>\n What you may not know is that there are three different types of starch: rapidly digesting starch, slowly digesting starch, and resistant starch.<\/p>\n As you might be able to guess, slowly digesting starch is very healthy; it is slowly broken down and released into the blood, results in a steady glycemic response, helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and improves overall nutritional quality of food.<\/p>\n By weight, oats are about 60% starch, and about 22% of that is slow-digesting starch while only about 7% is fast-digesting starch, which is quickly broken down and absorbed.<\/p>\n What about the remaining starch?<\/strong><\/p>\n That, friends, is resistant starch, which has earned the title \u201cweight loss wonder food\u201d and is quite possibly our favorite type of carbohydrate.<\/p>\n What the heck is resistant starch? We\u2019re glad you asked because we love talking about it.<\/p>\n As the name implies, it\u2019s a very special type of starch that \u201cescapes\u201d digestion.<\/p>\n In other words, we don\u2019t have the ability to digest it in our small intestines (like we do other carbs), and that means we don\u2019t absorb any calories from it. Calorie-free carb? Yessir!<\/p>\n Not only does it reduce the calorie content of a food, it also reduces the insulin response to a meal and improves insulin sensitivity. Boom! But that\u2019s not even the half of it.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a literal laundry list of benefits attributed to resistant starch.<\/p>\n Because we\u2019re science geeks fascinated by this stuff, we were going to go study by study and spell them out, but we know you don\u2019t have time for that.<\/p>\n Instead, we\u2019re just going to lay them out in a bulleted list because, well, there\u2019s a good chance that will catch your eye, and believe us, resistant starch is quite the catch.<\/p>\n So, here\u2019s that laundry list\u2026resistant starch has been shown to:<\/p>\n Wowzers! \u201cAnything else?\u201d you might be thinking, tongue-in-cheek. Yes, there\u2019s actually more.<\/p>\n Resistant starch is also considered a \u201cfunctional fiber.\u201d Because it\u2019s not digested in the small intestine, it passes along to the colon where it is fermented by gut bacteria.<\/p>\n In other words, resistant starch serves as \u201cfood\u201d for the good bacteria in the digestive tract. That\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n Even cooler, though, are the short-chain fatty acids (like butyrate) that are the byproduct of this fermentation process. These bad boys do a ton for overall health.<\/p>\n For instance, short-chain fatty acids serve as fuel for our immune system, and they help promote a healthy inflammatory response. But that\u2019s not all.<\/p>\n They support a healthy intestinal lining, and get this, they stimulate the release of appetite-crushing hormones. Um, yes please.<\/p>\n About 25% of the starch in oats is resistant starch, but here\u2019s the deal: Cooking oats dramatically reduces the amount of resistant starch.<\/p>\n That\u2019s right, cooking oats not only lowers the amount of resistant starch, it makes those carbs (and calories) readily available for absorption.<\/p>\n Get this, uncooked oats can contain over 55 TIMES more resistant starch than cooked oats!<\/p>\n And since we know that you\u2019re wondering how you might take advantage of this \u201cweight loss wonder food\u201d by eating more uncooked oats, here are two favorite recipes. Enjoy!<\/p>\n Too busy in the morning for a healthy breakfast? Nice try, but you\u2019ll need to come up with a better excuse.<\/p>\n With overnight oats, all you need is about 5 minutes at night to prepare a nutritious, delicious, on-the-go breakfast.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not the breakfast type, overnight oats are great as a mid-morning or afternoon snack or even as a pre- or post-workout meal.<\/p>\n Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n I started making these homemade energy bites when my wife was pregnant.<\/p>\n She needed to have a healthy, convenient, quick snack she could take with her\u2014and even eat during the night. Little did I know that we would both be hooked. I still make these once (if not twice) a week.<\/p>\n Rumor has it that oats can help with breast milk supply, so they\u2019re a staple for my wife. What\u2019s my excuse? They\u2019re just that darn tasty!<\/p>\n Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Did you know that ALL cells in your body require magnesium? Did you know that magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions?<\/p>\n Did you know that magnesium plays important roles in energy production, metabolic rate, blood glucose management, protein production, and more?<\/p>\n Did you know that magnesium supplements are among the top ten most popular dietary supplements?<\/p>\n Most importantly, did you know that magnesium deficiency is very common, and about 50% of Americans fall well short of the recommended daily intake for magnesium?<\/p>\n A half-cup of oats (dry) contains a whopping 34% of the recommended daily intake, making oats one of the better food sources of this critical mineral.<\/p>\n While most people associate magnesium with bone health (and it\u2019s definitely important to maintain strong bones), magnesium also helps with:<\/p>\n Given all that awesomeness\u2014and considering that oatmeal has long been synonymous with \u201chealth\u201d\u2014it comes as virtually no surprise that people who eat more oatmeal have:<\/p>\n Of course, these are just associations. But here\u2019s what\u2019s crazy.<\/p>\n Researchers find that oatmeal consumers have significantly lower body weights and belly fat (waist circumference) than non-consumers despite eating the same number of calories and engaging in the same amount of physical activity.<\/p>\n Pretty nifty stuff, right? Well, it\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg\u2026so let\u2019s dig a little deeper!<\/p>\n While there\u2019s no such thing as the \u201coatmeal diet\u201d (Hint, hint if you\u2019re looking to find your niche in the diet space.), oats are a centerpiece of the Nordic Diet. No, the Nordic Diet is nothing like the Swedish meatballs you\u2019d find at IKEA\u00ae.<\/p>\n The Nordic Diet consists of six basic foods:<\/p>\n That\u2019s it. Pretty plain, right? But remember what we said at the beginning. Keep things simple and limit variety, and you\u2019re golden.<\/p>\n Studies have shown that sticking to a healthy Nordic Diet can reduce body fat, improve insulin sensitivity, and help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and stroke.<\/p>\n Did someone say \u201cbelly fat\u201d? Why, yes we did. A few times, in fact.<\/p>\n You already know that people who eat oats tend to have lower waist circumferences and less belly fat, but let\u2019s take a step back for a second and talk about oat \u03b2-glucan.<\/p>\n We told you we\u2019d be coming back to it, didn\u2019t we?<\/p>\n Remember that oat \u03b2-glucan is a type of soluble fiber. Why is that important? We were hoping that you\u2019d ask that.<\/p>\n\r\n The thyroid is the most metabolically active gland in your entire body.\u00a0 If your thyroid is functioning at full capacity, weight-loss becomes relatively easy.\u00a0 If it's not, however -- which is the case for most -- losing even a single pound can become seemingly impossible.<\/p>\n Learn which 14 common foods BOOST your thyroid and flatten your belly in this 27 Page FREE Report\u2026 Today we\u2019re GIVING it away 100% FREE!<\/p>\n => Click Here For The FREE Report!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n A recent study conducted at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center provides convincing evidence that increasing intake of soluble fiber is one of the most effective ways to slash belly fat.<\/p>\n In fact, according to the study, the way to zero in and reduce belly fat is simple: eat more soluble fiber and engage in regular physical activity.<\/p>\n Check this out: The researchers found that for every 10-gram-per-day increase in soluble fiber, the amount of belly fat was reduced by a remarkable 3.7%.<\/p>\n By comparison, increased physical activity resulted in a 7.4% decrease in belly fat. We don\u2019t know about you, but that\u2019s pretty darn impressive.<\/p>\n While we\u2019re all about ramping up your physical activity and vigorous exercise, it\u2019s crazy to think that eating more fiber is half as effective as busting your butt at slashing belly fat.<\/p>\n Ready for more on oat \u03b2-glucan?<\/p>\n Along with resistant starch (found in uncooked oats), oat \u03b2-glucan has \u201cprebiotic\u201d effects.<\/p>\n Most prebiotics are dietary fibers, but not all dietary fibers are prebiotics.<\/p>\n Prebiotics are non-digestible nutrients that are fermented by the beneficial microbes (e.g., probiotics) of your gut.<\/p>\n In other words, prebiotics are like \u201cfood\u201d for healthy gut bacteria, and they provide health benefits by favorably impacting the composition or function of the gut microbiota.<\/p>\n That is, prebiotics help support a healthy balance of gut bacteria, and they also help ensure that our microbes are working optimally.<\/p>\n And oats are solid choice to help promote healthy gut bacteria and gut function.<\/p>\n While probiotics are all the rage, there are numerous things that prebiotics have the potential to do for you and your health:<\/p>\n When gut microbes ferment prebiotics, the process results in the formation of shortchain fatty acids (SFCA).<\/p>\n Yes, we know we already talked about this in the section on resistant starch, but it\u2019s just so awesome, we wanted to reiterate it.<\/p>\n One SFCA is called butyrate, which serves as fuel for the immune cells that populate the gut. Believe it or not, 70 \u2013 80% of your immune system resides in your gut.<\/p>\n This means that butyrate is crucial to supporting the body\u2019s natural defenses.<\/p>\n Butyrate also has anti-inflammatory properties, it can help support healthy mitochondria (the energy factories of our cells) function and number, and it may even offer neuroprotective effects.<\/p>\n But wait, there\u2019s more.<\/p>\n SCFA also stimulate the body\u2019s release of key satiety and appetite-suppressing hormones. SCFA have also been shown to reduce body weight and improve blood glucose management.<\/p>\n All this appetite talk is making us hungry. Maybe we should have some of Coach Tim\u2019s Homemade Energy Bites. Speaking of appetite, oats may be just the weapon you need to manage yours.<\/p>\n Hopefully you\u2019re not getting tired of hearing about oat \u03b2-glucan yet. Numerous studies have shown that both oat \u03b2-glucan and oatmeal promotes satiety and reduces food intake.<\/p>\n Oat \u03b2-glucan, like other soluble fibers, slows the rate that the stomach empties and promotes the release of key satiety hormones, such as PYY and GLP-1, which help increase feelings of fullness and reduce appetite.<\/p>\n Some have called satiety (which refers to feelings of fullness and satisfaction after a meal) the \u201cnew diet weapon\u201d due to its capacity to manage hunger.\u00a0 Foods with high satiety value can help:<\/p>\n In a seminal study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Australian researchers set out to establish a \u201csatiety index\u201d of 38 common foods.<\/p>\n Out of all the foods tested, oatmeal ranked third highest in satiety.24 Overall, greater levels of satiety can help you feel fuller longer, stick to a healthy nutrition plan, decrease caloric intake, limit emotional eating, lose body fat, and maintain better health.<\/p>\n Do you like the movie Forest Gump? Well, so do we. Who doesn\u2019t?<\/p>\n There are a ton of great quotes from the movie, but one of the most popular was when Forest said, \u201cJenny and me was like peas and carrots.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He was talking about how Jenny and him were always together\u2014they went hand-in-hand.<\/p>\n You know what else is like \u201cpeas and carrots\u201d? Oats and heart health, that\u2019s what.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve already touched on the fact that the evidence is so strong that oats (more specifically, oat \u03b2-glucan\u2026there it is\u2026again) lower total and LDL cholesterol as well as the risk for heart disease that the FDA allows oatmeal manufacturers to add these bold health claims to their packaging.<\/p>\n\r\n EDITORS NOTE:<\/strong> Knowing what and how much to eat for weight loss is critical towards your success.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure how to calculate your calories in order to burn fat, Get Your Free Fat Burning Calorie Calculator For Quick Weight Loss & Burn More Fat Than You Thought Possible In 30 Days=> Fat Burning Calculator<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n Oh, and if you have a rub against the FDA, we\u2019d just like to add that the association between cholesterol lowering and oat \u03b2-glucan has received the \u201cthumbs up\u201d from government agencies worldwide, including Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Malaysia. That\u2019s legit.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the thing: You need to consume at least 3 grams per day of oat \u03b2-glucan in order to reap these benefits.<\/p>\n This amount\u2014which you can get from a 60-gram (about \u00be cup) serving (dry weight)\u2014has been shown to significantly lower (by ~ 5 \u2013 10%) levels of total and LDL cholesterol, which are well-established risk factors for heart disease.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in \u201cgeeking out\u201d a little bit, let\u2019s talk about how oat \u03b2-glucan flexes its cholesterol-lowering muscle.<\/p>\n Because oat \u03b2-glucan is a soluble fiber, it forms a thick, gel-lick consistency in the digestive tract\u2014kind of like wallpaper paste.<\/p>\n This gel binds to cholesterol and cholesterol-like substances within the gut, preventing their absorption.<\/p>\n Eventually, the gel and the cholesterol are excreted from the body. Pretty nifty, eh?<\/p>\n Besides heart health, one of the most noteworthy benefits of oats center around their ability to improve glycemic control and support healthy insulin levels.<\/p>\n Once again, these benefits tie back to good ol\u2019 oat \u03b2-glucan, which delays the rate that food exits the stomach and how quickly carbohydrates are released into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n Handfuls of studies have shown that oat \u03b2-glucan reduces postprandial glucose and insulin responses and improves insulin sensitivity.28 Say what?<\/p>\n In other words, oat \u03b2-glucan helps lower both the glycemic and insulin responses to carbohydratecontaining meals.<\/p>\n That means that oat \u03b2-glucan helps improve carbohydrate tolerance and lowers the glycemic index of foods.\u00a0 That\u2019s a good thing\u2014a really good thing.<\/p>\n On one extreme, poor glycemic control, poor insulin sensitivity and function, and poor carbohydrate tolerance are hallmarks of type 2 diabetes, which as you know pretty much increases the risk for seemingly all negative health outcomes.<\/p>\n But even not to that extreme, poor carbohydrate tolerance means impaired fat burning, increased fat storage, impaired metabolic flexibility, dramatic fluctuations in energy levels, impaired ability to concentrate, increased hunger, increased cravings for sweets, increased food intake, and more.<\/p>\n In addition to the common explanation that oat \u03b2-glucan, a soluble fiber, helps delay gastric emptying, also remember that uncooked oats contain a copious amount of resistant starch, which helps lower the blood glucose response to a meal and improves insulin sensitivity.<\/p>\n On top of that, you may also remember that both oat \u03b2-glucan and resistant starch are fermented by the gut bacteria, resulting in the production of SCFA, which may also help promote glycemic control and insulin sensitivity.<\/p>\n While chit-chatting about the \u201cwhy\u201d is fun and all, the \u201cwhat\u201d is most important. It\u2019s pretty darn clear that eating oats may help improve insulin sensitivity, lower the blood glucose response to a carb-containing meal, and improve carb tolerance.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t care who you are, that\u2019s good stuff right there.<\/p>\n Now, before you run out to the market to pick up some oats, let\u2019s make something abundantly clear: All oats are not created equally.<\/p>\n The processing methods can substantially impact the nutritional quality and health benefits of oats.<\/p>\n Oat groats are the most minimally processed form of oats. However, they take a very long time to cook.<\/p>\n Instead, most people prefer steel-cut or rolled oats.<\/p>\n Steel-cut oats are produced by simply cutting the whole groats into smaller pieces. In other words, steel-cut oats are the least processed form of oats.<\/p>\n Oat flakes, or rolled oats, are produced by flattening either whole or steel-cut groats with rotating rollers.<\/p>\n There\u2019s another step in the process, however, which results in \u201cinstant\u201d or \u201cquick\u201d oats.<\/p>\n These types of oats tend to be the most popular, and they\u2019re what are commonly found in the \u201ckiddie\u201d pre-packaged oatmeal products, which have other issues (including added sugar and artificial ingredients).<\/p>\n The former are thicker while the latter are smaller and thinner, meaning they require a shorter cooking time.<\/p>\n Also, instant oats are processed at a higher temperature to partially gelatinise the starch. Try not to let that confuse you.<\/p>\n What that means is that the starch is more readily digestible, and that means less resistant starch and a quicker, faster rise in blood sugar.<\/p>\n So, armed with that info, do you think there\u2019s any difference in glycemic response between less processed oats (steel-cut and rolled oats) compared to more processed oats (quick and instant)? If you said yes, you earned a gold star!<\/p>\n In an extensive review, researchers found that the glycemic response to quick and instant oats is 35% higher than the response to steel-cut or rolled oats.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a substantial, noteworthy difference. Interestingly, it doesn\u2019t seem like the fiber or oat \u03b2-glucan content is influenced by processing methods.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re stuck with the continental breakfast and your only option is kiddie oatmeal, then we pardon you. But when you have the choice, you\u2019ve got to go with steel-cut or rolled oats for optimal health and metabolic function.<\/p>\n Clearly, oats are pretty awesome. So awesome, in fact, that we feel they\u2019re best described as awesome-sauce; that\u2019s what the cool kids these days say about something that\u2019s extremely good.<\/p>\n But, we\u2019re going to let you in on a little secret on how we make oats even better: Add protein.<\/p>\n You already know that oats have a satiety value and promote glycemic control,but the addition of protein enhances these effects, stepping up oats\u2019 game up to a whole other level.<\/p>\n In fact, when it comes to satiety, protein is takes the crown.\u00a0 That is, protein increases satiety to a greater extent than carbohydrate or fat, and in doing so, it tends to reduce hunger, cravings, and overall food intake.<\/p>\n Studies consistently show that a high protein breakfast is superior to a \u201cnormal\u201d protein breakfast (such as cereal or oatmeal) for increasing satiety, reducing hunger, increasing appetite-curbing hormones, and decreasing cravings and food intake.<\/p>\n Considering that many people like to eat oatmeal by itself (or with other carb-dense foods, such as fruit), it\u2019s a good idea to add some protein.<\/p>\n By far, our favorite is a little something we like to call PRO-oatmeal. Say what?<\/p>\n We make PRO-oatmeal simply by adding 2 \u2013 3 scoops of BioTrust Low Carb<\/a> to our morning oatmeal.\u00a0 If we\u2019re cooking the oatmeal, we add the protein after the oats are prepared.<\/p>\n Since we\u2019re so fond of resistant starch, most of the time we don\u2019t even cook the oats. We simply put our oats and some liquid (e.g., water, unsweetened almond milk) in a bowl, add our BioTrust Low Carb<\/a>, mix it up, and voil\u00e0: PROatmeal!<\/p>\n Oh, there\u2019s one more reason to add protein to your oats:<\/p>\n Adding protein to a carb containing meal significantly lowers the glycemic response.<\/p>\n Remember, in the short term, carbohydrate management is important for maintaining energy levels, preventing fatigue and energy crashes, supporting appetite control, reducing cravings, performing at your peak, and more.<\/p>\n Over the long haul, it\u2019s crucial for supporting brain health, heart health, healthy metabolic function, a healthy body weight, quality of life, and pretty much every aspect of overall health.<\/p>\n When you eat carbs (such as oats) is also important, especially if you\u2019re the type of person who feels like you pack on the pounds just looking at carbohydrates.<\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not, research suggests that our bodies are wired to handle carbs better earlier in the day.<\/p>\n Have you ever heard of the phrase \u201ccircadian rhythms\u201d? This is basically your body\u2019s 24-hour internal clock.<\/p>\n Research on circadian biology shows us that carb tolerance and insulin sensitivity are greatest in the morning and then decline over the course of the day.<\/p>\n Believe it or not, the science community calls this phenomenon \u201cafternoon diabetes.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, research also shows that the \u201cthermogenic burn,\u201d which refers to the calories the body burns off to process the food we eat, is also highest in the morning.<\/p>\n So, even though the research is inconsistent, maybe there is something to the ol\u2019 adage \u201cEat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.\u201d<\/p>\n Since oats are synonymous with breakfast, this shouldn\u2019t be too hard to put into practice. Just remember to add some protein. PROatmeal<\/a>, anyone?<\/p>\n Besides your first meal of the day, two other optimal times for carb-rich meals are in the hours before or following intense exercise.<\/p>\n Eating a carb-containing meal (especially a low glycemic carb like oats) before exercise helps optimize performance, maintain stable energy levels, and promote fat burning.<\/p>\n After intense exercise, muscles are like sponges, and carb tolerance and insulin sensitivity are both greatly enhanced. Porridge, Anyone?<\/p>\n We love oats, and if you didn\u2019t already, we hope that have a greater appreciation for them and how awesome they are. They\u2019re nutritious, delicious, and associated with a long list of health benefits.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no wonder that oats have long been regarded as a \u201chealthy\u201d food and consistently make the \u201ctop ten\u201d lists of virtually every reputable organization.<\/p>\n While this article was packed with more information than oats are nutrition, here are a few important things to remember:<\/p>\n![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/ryan-pouncy-52372-1024x684.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOats and Nutrition<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/carlos-t-433509-1024x826.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Beyond the Nutrition Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Ultimate-Guide-to-Antioxidants.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Oats and \u03b2-glucan<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/0000000136.png\")
<\/p>\nOats can help reduce cholesterol<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/crispy_hearts_image_master-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOats and Resistant Starch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/yanina-trekhleb-426793-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Resistant_Starch-Metabolic_Mechanism_DIAGRAM_OL.png\")
<\/p>\n\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/GettyImages-57577434-56a504e33df78cf77285fff8.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCoach Cristina\u2019s Overnight Oats<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Untitled-design-95.png\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
Coach Tim\u2019s Homemade Energy Bites<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/balls2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
Oats and Magnesium<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Oat-recipes-1024x683-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Oats and Diet Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Oatmeal and The Nordic Diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Nordic-Diet.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Oats and Belly Fat<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/4-of-the-best-supplements-for-digestion-1024x768-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOats and Gut Health<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/SSBlog_GutHealth_1400x1050-1024x768-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Oats and Satiety<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/full-stomach.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
Oats and Heart Health<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/holistic-heart-health-strategies-wellness-1024x512.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOats and Glycemic Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/471122396-1024x682.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAll Oats Are Not Created Equally<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/913e87c4-dd04-4c16-87c9-e8e8d37fc2ee_1.fb72522d116d51f9771a0b01f60cb463-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/1360c324_regularrolledoats_f_hr.jpg\")
The difference between rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats) and quick oats is the thickness of the oat flakes.<\/p>\nOats and Protein<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/whey-protein-powder.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/ad-BioTrust-Low-Carb-vanillacream.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOats and Timing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/breakfast_clock_620x400_noexp.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/logo-1-copy.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n
![\"weight](\"https:\/\/turnaroundfitness.comwp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/image004.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n