OATS

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

There's nothing like oats
Article By: Lize de Kock
Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:39

There's something really hearty about a steaming bowl of oats on an icy morning. Not only does it comfort your insides, it also fills you up for hours ahead.

Same as Goldilocks, we each have our own preferred way of enjoying our porridge. I like mine with a little bit of milk and a lot of honey. You may like to add a bit of butter, salt or fresh fruit. Of course, if you're the extravagant type, there's always brown sugar and cream.

Hearty and healthy

In it's simplest form, oats are one of the world's healthiest foods. They are a concentrated source of nutrients including magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, Vitamin B1, calcium, Vitamin E and high-quality protein — all included to make you feel just like you should.

Oats are also rich in fibre, helping to lower blood cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If you're looking to keep that beach body throughout winter, oats will go a long way. Not only do oats keep you fuller for longer, they also stabilises blood sugar and fat levels because of their low GI — great news for diabetics. And they contribute to healthy weight loss.

A superhero food

This nourishing food is a superhero when it comes to fighting cancer, alleviating and preventing diseases of the colon, relieving hiatus hernia, easing constipation and acting as a natural sedative and nerve restorer. That's enough to make me feel like stocking up on oats this winter.

One medium bowl is a balanced serving — you know what they say about too much of a good thing.

When the pack says 'whole oats', it means it's the whole grain with the husk removed. 'Rolled oats' are whole oats that were flattened between rollers. The benefit of rolled oats is that it makes the cooking time shorter, without losing any nutritional properties.

Oats is one of winter's wholesome pleasures, especially when you make it yourself, the traditional way.

Kids and adults alike enjoy oat cookies. Here's a recipe that will make sure the whole family gets an immune boost of note:

Ginger Oat Cookies

# 2 bananas

# ½ cup molasses

# 2 teaspoons vanilla

# 1 cup whole-wheat flour

# 2 cups oats

# 2 teaspoons baking soda

# 1 teaspoon ginger

# 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients, drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 180 degrees C, 10-15 minutes. You can add nuts and raisins too.
For pan cookies, I use a greased 9" x 9" pan and bake for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees C.

Sources:
'Nutrition for life' by Lisa Hark PhD RD & Dr Darwin Deen
'Let food be your medicine' by Sally-Ann Creed
Recipe: www.recipezaar.com

[DUNJA WRBKA]

   Bravo Mike!

Thanks for that!  I always knew that oats had good qualities but not as many as advised above.  I am insulin resistant and my blood sugar tends to be all over the place.  Will invest in some oats and get eating to a healthier life ...   

[Bertie Horak]

@ Mike - Great info!

We use oats or oat plant (Avena sativa) products with a lot of success as phytotherapists.  Especially in conditions where you have to nourish the nervous system.  (For instance sleeping disturbances, stress, etc.)  It makes a great tincture - the oats is harvested just before it is ripe - the "fruits" then contain a milky white sap which is rich in all the minerals, vitamins, etc. 
Also in gastro-intestinal problems.  A little cinnamon in stead of sugar is a great and healthy substitute/variation.

Please - just dont go and buy the processed, two-minute stuff and nuke it in the microwave for breakfast!!!!! That's really not going to bring you all the benefits Mike described so well!

[SandyB]

The fibre in oats is of a variety that forms a 'gel '  ( forget the name ) and traps excess fats in food .. thats why its so good .. nothing beats a good  bowl of Jungle oats .. of course with butter and sugar .. me lucky .. my system just mops it up and burns it  all off ...

[Michele Alexander (Voden)]

Guess what I just made the girls for breakfast? You guessed right - oats! With brown sugar - Mike reckons it should be eaten with salt - yuk!

[Michael Alexander]

"The wee bairns dinnae know whit they're missin' "   

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Guess what I just made the girls for breakfast? You guessed right - oats! With brown sugar - Mike reckons it should be eaten with salt - yuk!

What did Mike have.

[SandyB]

Always  cooked up with a pinch of salt ..

[Rhona]

You guys can keep your outs - this little leprechaun is having fresh fruit salad - chunks of pineapple; kiwi; melon; mango; some grapes and a couple of orange segments and all finished off with a pineapple yogurt.........bet ye are wishing ye were in my house for brekkie and not the oats house........ 

[Michael Alexander]

Ahem! I had Omelettes.... 

I just caught Mike S in the Shop buying Oats.... He almost klapped me because he could'nt find the brand he wanted... Gee! Some guys and their oats.... 

[Rhona]

oats......shmoats..........tell him put on his glasses and he'd find them quick enough - it would be more in his line to be in here administrating stuff.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Ahem! I had Omelettes.... 
quote]
Now you can go mow the lawn and clean the windows.

[Michael Alexander]

I don't do labour in my house..thats Michele's job..... I'm in charge of the Braai, Computers, Omelettes, keeping the fridge full of refreshments and playing ultra loud music.... We know who wears the Kilt in this hoose.........     

[Rhona]

We also know who's sleeping on the spare room when Michele logs on and reads this 

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

and no cheese in them omlettes