You've likely heard health and nutrition experts highlight the benefits of eating a healthy, well-balanced breakfast — it's not called the most important meal of the day for nothing. But when you're on the go, it can be difficult to find the time and motivation to plan and put together a meal that offers balanced nutrition. Could oatmeal be the answer? Consumers are increasingly interested in purchasing whole grain oatmeal , according to a recent report from market research provider Wise Guy Reports.
And that interest is forecasted to continue to skyrocket — market researchers cited both rising health consciousness and an increasing demand for convenient breakfast options. Whether you're interested in prepping an oatmeal-based baked good or overnight oats, or even quickly whipping up good ol' fashioned stovetop oatmeal, here's what nutrition experts want you to know about adding oats to your regular meal rotation. Are oats healthy? The short answer: yes.
"Oats are a super nutrient-dense food that can support digestion, heart health and even weight management," registered dietitian Miranda Galati tells USA TODAY. "They contain a unique beta-glucan fiber that’s particularly powerful for lowering cholesterol and improving blood sugar." If blood sugar is something you want to target specifically, you may want to opt for groats (whole oat kernels that only have the inedible hulls removed) or steel-cut oats (oat groats cut into smaller pieces), both of which take longer to di.
