Oatmeal & Flax Seed

Oatmeal Benefits

First, the bad news. Instant oatmeal packets that come in different flavors are not health food. They’re full of sugar, and many of the nutrients have been stripped in the processing. Plain rolled oat flakes, be they Quaker Oats or another brand, are what you want to reach for.

Oats are a whole grain, a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. According to the American Cancer Society:

• Insoluble fiber has cancer-fighting properties. The phytochemicals (antioxidants) in oats may also have cancer-fighting properties.
• Soluble fiber may reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol without lowering HDL (good) cholesterol.
• Soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch, which may be beneficial to diabetics.
• Studies show that those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease.
• Oats are a good source of many nutrients, including copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, selenium, vitamin E and zinc, and are a good source of protein.

Flax Seed Benefits

The ancient flax seed is a modern healer’s darling.

• It is rich in fiber and alpha linolenic acid, a plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to that found in salmon.
• Studies show that flax seed lowers total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol while maintaining HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
• Flax seed may also help lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure, and keep platelets from becoming sticky, therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.
• Rich in the phytoestrogen and antioxidant lingan, flax seed shows promise in fighting breast cancer and other diseases, including Crohn’s Disease and colitis.

And, it adds a delicious, nutty flavor to the oatmeal that gives a relatively bland cereal something special.