Want to fuel your next workout? Instead of a protein bar or shake, try a bowl of oatmeal.
"Oats increase your metabolism and can amplify your athletic performance if it's eaten within one hour of exercise," says registered nutritionist Jay Cowin, director of formulations at ASYSTEM.
"Oatmeal is rich in soluble fiber beta-glucan," explains clinical dietitian practitioner and diabetes educator Tejal Pathak, MS, RD, founder of TejRD.
"Numerous studies have linked fiber and its possible role in cardiovascular [health] by improving blood lipid levels and postprandial effects on blood sugars."
The health of your gut can affect the wellbeing of virtually every other part of your body—and luckily, oatmeal might just be the thing
you need to achieve a healthier, happier belly."The fiber content of oatmeal improves gut health and keeps you full," explains nutritionist Lisa Richards, author of The Candida Diet.
The fiber content of oatmeal improves gut health by serving as a prebiotic food to feed healthy gut bacteria already existing there. This one fact alone will
improve immune health, lower your risk of chronic disease, and reduce inflammation in the body," explains Trista Best, a registered dietician at Balance One Supplements.