In the News: Eat oats every day to stay healthy

Eat a bowl of oats for breakfast and it may be enough to cut your risk of a heart attack, according to new research published in The British Food Journal.

Experts believe that following such a diet can reduce bad cholesterol by up to 20 per cent because oats contain a compound called beta-glucan and just three grams a day are enough to cut the risk of heart attack. This new research based on the results of 21 studies over the past 18 years provides yet more evidence that regular oat consumption is an effective dietary strategy for helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Fifteen of the studies found regular consumption of oats cut total cholesterol levels among the 1,450 volunteers. In 13 studies cholesterol levels were reduced by up to seventeen per cent. Three studies reported significant reductions in harmful low density lipo-proteins (LDL) and several found eating oats regularly boosted good cholesterol. High levels of harmful cholesterol significantly increase the risk of heart disease.

Oats are a heart healthy food and can be eaten not only as porridge but also as oat cakes.  If you buy cereal bars containing oats then make sure they are just sweetened with fruit or fruit juice otherwise they can have a large amount of sugar which will increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. 

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