The Skinny on Oats, Oatmeal, Vitamins Nutrition for Skin Care
and Bath Products. by Nick A. James
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa)
An oat is a grass that produces a
fibrous root and a hollow jointed stem with narrow, flat, pale-green leaves.
Oats are native to southern Europe and eastern Asia. They are widely cultivated
as a food.
An oat is an edible cereal grain produced by the cereal grass
of the same name. They are light colored and have a nutty flavor and a chewy
texture. Usually we think of them as breakfast food but oatmeal has long been
known for its skin-soothing properties. Many skin lotions and ointments are
formulated with oats for it's skin healing properties.
As a nutritious
breakfast food oats provide a healthy addition to your diet in that there is 140
calories per 1/2 cup serving. They also provide 4g of dietary fiber, of which 2g
of this is soluble fiber and 2g is insoluble. Insoluble fibers are those that
cannot be dissolved in water. And soluble fibers can be dissolved in water. They
provide 10% of your daily iron needs. Also of this 1/2 cup serving, there is 26g
of carbohydrate and 2.5g of fat, which is considered lowfat. Three grams of
soluble fiber from oatmeal daily, in a diet low in saturated fat and
cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Besides all this, this
nourishing cereal also contains, vitamins, starches, minerals and 5g of protein.
Clinical trials have been done, and they have shown that regular consumption of
oat bran reduces blood cholesterol levels in just one month. High-fiber diets
may also reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancers.
Oats contain the
alkaloid, gramine, which has been credited with mild sedative properties.
There are several forms of oats on the market and the following lists
the most popular kinds. Whole oats without the hulls are groats.
Rolled:
Oat groats that have been steamed then flattened into flakes. Also, known by the
more common name of old-fashioned. Quick-cooking: Oat groats that are cut into
several pieces before rolling to shorten the cooking time. Instant oatmeal: Oat
groats that are cut into very small pieces and processed so that they need no
cooking, just add boiling water. Steel-cut: Oat groats that have been cut by
steel blades. Often called Irish or Scottish oatmeal. Oat flour: The finely
ground grain. Oat bran: The ground outer layer of the oat. Used as a hot cooked
breakfast cereal and is a good source of fiber.
Other uses for Oats Are
in Skin and Bath Products.
Oatmeal is found in many bath products and
skin and body products. Oatmeal baths are wonderful for soothing dry, flaking
skin, and poison ivy and dermatoses. It alleviates itching from poison oak and
chicken pox. It has long been used in facial scrub products and is a very
natural product.
Oat straw contains high levels of silicic acid, which
makes it an effective treatment for many skin diseases, especially those
associated with the nervous system. Try using an external oat-straw preparation
to relieve shingles and herpes.
Besides eating them in the form we are
most familiar with, the box of oats that we purchase in the supermarket, oat
products can be purchased in commercial form as capsules, extracts, and
tinctures.
One expert lists the primary functions of oats as: If eaten,
a supportive, nurturing tonic for the nervous system, If eaten, it can be used
to alleviate digestive problems associated with stress and tension, If applied
externally, it can relieve skin diseases especially those with a nervous basis.
About the Author
Nick A. James offers informative tips and information on nutrition, health
and working from home. His many years of Internet Marketing expertise puts him
in unique position to help others starting a home business . For free newsletter, free reports
and amazing info contact him at: http://www.health-goji-juice.com
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