Two Days on Oatmeal – and Your Body Will Surprise You: What Really Happens 0 9

Oatmeal is excellent for satiety, helps to lose excess weight, and positively affects the heart and gastrointestinal tract. It is important that the grains are not instant but require proper cooking — at least 20 minutes. Only such porridge is beneficial, as you are eating whole grains.

But what happens if you eat only oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? In the long term, this is not advisable, as the diet should be varied. Scientists from the University of Bonn in Germany decided to conduct a mini-experiment that lasted just two days.

The main goal of the experiment was to determine how such a diet would affect metabolism, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. It has long been known in science that oats are beneficial for metabolic processes, the endocrine system, and other systems.

"Today, effective medications are available for treating patients with diabetes. But how can one help their body without pills? That is what we wanted to find out," explains Marie-Christine Simon, an assistant professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Bonn.

Although the participants in the current study did not suffer from diabetes, they had metabolic syndrome, which is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. A total of 32 people participated in the experiment. All men and women had excess weight, issues with blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and lipid metabolism.

Each day, participants consumed 300 grams of oatmeal cooked in water. To vary the taste of breakfasts and dinners, the scientists allowed them to add a little fruit or vegetables to the porridge. However, sugar, salt, other spices, and products were prohibited.

The control group consisted of participants who also followed a low-calorie diet, but oatmeal was not included in their diet.

Both groups benefited from the dietary change. However, the effect was much more pronounced in participants who ate only oatmeal. In just two days, their blood sugar and cholesterol levels decreased, and their intestinal function improved.

"In the main group, the level of 'bad' cholesterol decreased by 10%. They also lost an average of two kilograms, and their blood pressure decreased as well," researchers share the results.

Another conclusion by the scientists: consuming oatmeal increases the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut and positively affects their function. The diet caused the gut microbiome to produce more ferulic acid, which accelerates cholesterol metabolism. At the same time, other microorganisms, thanks to oatmeal, eliminated the amino acid histidine. In the body, it is converted into a molecule that contributes to the development of insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.

The conclusion can be made as follows: oatmeal is beneficial, but it is always important to remember moderation. Experts conducted a similar experiment where people ate oatmeal once a day for six weeks — the effect was not as pronounced. Therefore, try to include oatmeal in your diet 3-4 times a week. Oatmeal will make an excellent breakfast, but also alternate your first meal with omelets, whole grain toast, vegetables, greens, fish, and poultry.