Oats has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. Over the centuries, oats were generally regarded to be fit only for animal feed. Oats is a field grain which is harvested in early summer.
Today, the primary use of oats is as animal feed, alone or in mixture; much is used on-farm. Oats have a higher level of soluble fiber than all other grains.
Nowadays, the main used of use as human food is in breakfast cereals. Among the benefits of oats in the diet, is the value that they have in lowering cholesterol, are soothing to the digestive process.
Oats are available in several forms.
Oats are harvested with hulls, which need to be removed from oat products to be used for human consumption.
Oat groats are the whole seed with only the outer hull removed. Rolled oats are the familiar breakfast form. Steel cut oats are oats seed that have been chopped into pieces. Quick Oats are rolled steel cut oats, and instant oats are pre-cooked, dried and flattened steel cut oats. Oat groats may be used as a hot cereal; they taste more like cooked wheat or rice than oatmeal.
The finest form is as flour. We are all acquainted with oats, which are very popular in granola, cookies, as well as a breakfast food.
The health effects of oats rely mainly on the total dietary fiber and beta-glucan content of oat products, and often oats products are characterized according to their beta-glucan content. The beta-glucan content of wholegrain de-hulled is typically around 4%.
Oat beta-glucan is involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, it has beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes, and lowers serum cholesterol.
The consumption of oats
Oats are harvested with hulls, which need to be removed from oat products to be used for human consumption.
Oat groats are the whole seed with only the outer hull removed. Rolled oats are the familiar breakfast form. Steel cut oats are oats seed that have been chopped into pieces. Quick Oats are rolled steel cut oats, and instant oats are pre-cooked, dried and flattened steel cut oats. Oat groats may be used as a hot cereal; they taste more like cooked wheat or rice than oatmeal.
The finest form is as flour. We are all acquainted with oats, which are very popular in granola, cookies, as well as a breakfast food.
The health effects of oats rely mainly on the total dietary fiber and beta-glucan content of oat products, and often oats products are characterized according to their beta-glucan content. The beta-glucan content of wholegrain de-hulled is typically around 4%.
Oat beta-glucan is involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, it has beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes, and lowers serum cholesterol.
The consumption of oats
