What are steel cut oats and what makes them so healthy?

Staying fit and healthy begins from eating healthy! We try every possible thing to stay healthy, but the key to good health depends on our dietary preferences and most of our health issues can be resolved just by tweaking our diet. In fact, with an increase in health consciousness most people prefer going for healthier alternatives like oats, quinoa, barley, etc, as compared to gluten-rich flours and cereals. One such fad among health enthusiasts has been steel cut oats, which is considered to be the best variant of oats, but what makes it so healthy and different from other variants? Well, read on to know more about steel cut oats and their umpteen health benefits.

Biologically known as Avena sativa, oats are little cereals that are packed with high fiber and nutrients. There are several types of oats such as rolled oats, old-fashioned oats, groat oats, oat bran and steel cut oats. Besides, steel cut oats are considered to be one of the most healthy oat variants, these oats are also known as Scottish or Irish oats and are generally consumed as a popular breakfast cereal around the world.

Steel cut oats are the least processed oats and because of this steel cut oats have the maximum amount of nutritional value. In fact, the process of extracting steel cut oats are different.

They are made by chopping the hulled oat grains using steel blades. This process of making steel cut oats keeps the nutritional part of the oat grain intact such as bran, endosperm and germ. On the other hand, instant oats undergo a proper process of sorting, steaming, flattening and packaging, which eventually loses out on the nutritional aspect.

In fact, steel cut oats have a unique taste, which has a coarse and chewy texture, and a rich flavour, which makes it a great breakfast cereal.

Unlike other oat varieties, steel cut oats go through minimal processing and thus they retain the nutrients present in the oat grains. Packed with nutrients such as, iron, vitamin E, folate, zinc, and selenium, steel cut oats are a great source of fiber and plant proteins. This is the reason why adding steel cut oats to your daily diet can meet your daily fiber needs and can help in improving your metabolism in the long run.

Steel cut oats are loaded with beta glucan, which is a type of soluble fiber. It has been observed in several studies that beta-glucan helps in better absorption of nutrients in the body and helps in lowering bad cholesterol and improves heart health in the long run. The high-fiber content in these oats reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes and regulates the blood sugar level in the body.

Adding oats in your diet can remarkably improve your digestion and this is due to the presence of fiber, which not only helps in easing the bowel movements but also works as a natural laxative. Apart from that, fiber-rich foods help in better absorption of nutrients and strengthens metabolism. Moreover, steel cut oats are a good source of fiber and plant based proteins that help in overall development of health.

Steel cut oats are loaded with healthy fibers and resistant starch, which helps in keeping you satiated for a longer duration and this happens due to the presence of resistant carbs that take a lot of time to digest, thus regulates your blood sugar level. In fact, daily consumption of steel cut oats can help in healthy weight management as it keeps your system healthy and keeps you full for a longer period of time.