Oatmeal wins hands down for best breakfast
Most people have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what’s the healthiest option?
Experts say oatmeal wins hands-down.
New research published in the Nutrition Journal suggests that eating oatmeal for breakfast not only offers great nutritional value but will keep you feeling full longer. Study leaders found that eating a bowl of instant oatmeal for breakfast can be more gratifying than popular cereals.
A study of 43 healthy men and women completed a controlled-crossover observation. The evening before was an overnight fast. In the morning subjects completed three breakfast trials in random order at least a week apart. Each breakfast contained 150 calories of oatmeal or cereal, plus 67.5 calories of lactose-free skim milk. After the subjects ate breakfast each person’s hunger was assessed at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes.
The results showed that when participants ate instant oatmeal, they reported feeling less hungry compared to eating cereal. The subjects also reported that eating oatmeal in the morning helped them retain a feeling of being full throughout the day. Researchers believe that oatmeal’s high viscosity may have something to do with the decrease in hunger.
“This study demonstrates that the unique characteristics of oatmeal have a significant impact on fullness and desire to eat, even when matched for calories and ingredients (oats) with another breakfast option,” said study leader Dr. Frank Greenway in a statement. “We found instant oatmeal to be more effective at suppressing appetite compared to the cold cereal, even with a smaller serving size and less calories than previously investigated.”
Dr.Jennifer Debruler, an internal medicine physician with Advocate Medical Group in Libertyville, Ill., recommends starting your day off right by eating a healthy breakfast.
“The benefits to eating a meal in the morning are infinite but a few advantages of breakfast are that it helps you fulfill your daily nutritional needs, kick starts your metabolism, and gives your brain a start on the day,” she says.
A well-known benefit of breakfast is aiding as a crutch for weight loss, she says.
“Eating a healthy breakfast can decrease hunger during the day, and help people make healthier food choices at other meals,” Dr. Debruler says. “If weight loss is one of your goals or not, oatmeal is the perfect choice to start your day!”
Related Posts
Comments
7 Comments
About the Author
health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.
This is great news – I love oatmeal! I always recommend Trader Joe’s steel cut oatmeal to friends and family.
I love oatmeal, so I am glad to hear this news! I love that I can add all sorts of fruit and granola to it for extra fullness to start my day!
My 2 year old LOVES plain oatmeal with a splash of honey and some raisins!
Shop wisely if you need gluten-free oatmeal…
Most oatmeal brands on the market today are not pure — they contain oats that have been cross-contaminated with a tiny bit of wheat, barley and/or rye.
Read this article yesterday and had oatmeal for breakfast today – it was delicious and I am still feeling full!
In order to keep my oatmeal extra healthy I usually get whole oats and cook it with bluberries instead of eating the instant oatmeal!
This is great to hear — I love oatmeal!