How Does Oatmeal Lower Cholesterol?

How Does Oatmeal Lower Cholesterol?
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Soluble Fiber vs. Insoluble Fiber

Sure, oatmeal is healthy. But can eating oatmeal really reduce your cholesterol? Believe it or not, the answer is yes. And it’s all because of one type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan.

When you hear the word “fiber,” you probably think about insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is not digested by the body, so it passes through the body and helps with regularity. You can consume this type of fiber by eating whole grain products, vegetables, and some fruits. Soluble fiber, on the other hand, is digested by the body, so it does not help with regularity. You can consume soluble fiber by eating apples, pears, prunes, kidney beans, barley – and yes, oatmeal. As mentioned above, a form of soluble fiber, called beta-glucan, is the component of oatmeal that helps to reduce your cholesterol.

Insoluble fiber – and more specifically, beta-glucan – lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. For people with high cholesterol, this is a huge breakthrough. Studies show that eating just one bowl of oatmeal once a day can cause a 10% drop in LDL cholesterol.

What about Instant Oatmeal?

Believe it or not, instant oatmeal has the same amount of beta-glucan as regular oatmeal. That means, of course, that it is just as powerful when it comes to lowering LDL cholesterol. Keep in mind, however, that the packages of instant oatmeal are much smaller than a typical serving of regular oatmeal, so you’ll have to eat more than one package to get the same amount of beta-glucan. Also keep in mind that many types of instant oatmeal are flavored, often with ingredients that are not as healthy as the oatmeal itself.

Making Oatmeal Even Healthier and Tastier

If the word oatmeal makes you think of gruel, you’ll need some ideas to make your oatmeal more appetizing. Sure, you could add chocolate syrup or sugar to it, but that would defeat the whole purpose of eating healthy! Instead, try adding raisins or dried cranberries to your oatmeal for a sweet taste. To give it a bit of a crunch, try adding healthy granola or nuts. In no time, you’ll be a huge fan of oatmeal – not least of all because of how the oatmeal will reduce your cholesterol, making your healthier than ever.