Amp
Health & Wellness

Amp up your oats!

Meg de Jong

You might have heard that oatmeal can make for a healthy breakfast, but this October we’re here to show you how to bring your oat-y breakfast to a whole new level of nourishing goodness!

Why Oats for Breakfast?

Oatmeal makes an amazing first meal of the day for so many reasons! First of all, oats are full of fibre and are also loaded with complex carbohydrates. The main soluble fibre in oats is called Beta-glucan which has been found to help slow digestion and increase feelings of satiety throughout the day (1). The longer digestive time that oats require helps avoid the energy spikes and crashes that can often be experienced when blood sugars are not properly balanced. The fibre found in oats can also have a cleansing effect within your intestinal tract (2). This means that eating oats can help add bulk to your stool and promote more regular bowel movements. It has also been scientifically proven that oats contain plant chemicals such as phytoestrogens and phenolic compounds (2). These plant chemicals help to decrease chronic inflammation thereby helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (3). In addition, oats are also considered a “nervine” meaning they help to calm the nervous system during times of anxiety, nervousness, depression, and other conditions associated with nervous system imbalances (4). Clearly, oats alone make for an amazing breakfast, but as mentioned, we are here to amp up your oats to a whole new level. Below are some oat combos that can be of huge benefit to your health!

Spirulina Oats:

Spirulina, a cyanobacterium, more commonly known as a blue-green algae, is loaded with vitamins (especially the B’s), minerals, proteins, and essential fatty acids. It is particularly high in the Omega 3 fatty acids which everyone could use more of in their diet as they help to reduce inflammation and improve cognitive function. Spirulina has also been found to increase energy levels, detoxify your body of toxins, and helps to fight off chronic illnesses.

Turmeric Mylk Latte Oats:

Turmeric is the ultimate addition to any diet. It contains curcumin which is an active anti-inflammatory compound. Most doctors agree that “inflammation is the root of all illness” meaning that the more anti-inflammatory foods you can incorporate into your diet, the lower your risk is of all sorts of diseases. Adding Turmeric Mylk Latte to your oats will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy all day long.

Adaptogen Mylk Latte Oats:

This blend has all of the ultimate adaptogenic compounds found in nature! It contains maca, reishi, lions mane, and ashwagandha. These “adaptogens” help to support your body with whatever it needs through their amazing adaptability once ingested. Adaptogen Mylk Latte is great at helping to balance hormones, reduce stress, ease anxiety, improve energy levels, and promote a general sense of well being. We also added a sprinkle of cacao to this recipe which is an incredible antioxidant helping to fight free radicals within your body. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love some form of chocolate for breakfast!

Blue Mylk Latte Oats:
This is the perfect boost to your oats if you’re ever feeling a little blue as the weather begins to get cooler. This Blue Mylk powder contains butterfly pea flower, cardamom, spirulina, ashwagandha, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. Butterfly pea flower is considered one of the ultimate “beauty boosters”. It can help to improve hair growth, clarity of skin, eyesight, and helps to promote an overall sense of wellbeing within the body. The spirulina in this powder will give you the extra energy boost you might need. Ashwagandha, being the incredible adaptogen it is, will help you meet the demands of your day with ease. The other spices in the blend will keep your blood sugars balanced and warm you from the inside out.

Can't wait to try these amped up oats? Stay tuned for Meg's oat recipes throughout October!

Sources
  1. https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/74/2/131/1924832
  2. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/oats/
  3. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/5/5/1471/htm
  4. http://grianherbs.com/plants/oats