4 good reasons to eat oat bread
In addition to the usual
white Arabic bread made out of wheat, there are now on the market many other
types of bread using different cereals. One of them is oat bread and it offers several
health benefits.
1. Stronger heart
A study published in the Archives
of Internal Medicine shows that eating high fiber foods, such as oats, helps
prevent heart disease (1). Oats, via their high fiber content help remove
cholesterol from the digestive system that would otherwise end up in the
bloodstream. The latest research suggests they may have another
cardio-protective mechanism. Antioxidant compounds unique to oats, called
avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol, thus
reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, suggests a study conducted at
Tufts University and published in The Journal of Nutrition.
2. Enhanced Immune Response
to Infection
In addition to being
beneficial to the cardio-vascular system, oat reinforces the immune system. In
laboratory studies reported in Surgery, beta-glucan found in oat significantly
enhanced the human immune system's response to bacterial infection.
3. Stabilize Blood Sugar
Studies also show
that beta-glucan has beneficial effects in diabetes as well. Type 2 diabetes
patients given foods high in this type of oat fiber or given oatmeal or oat
bran rich foods experienced much lower rises in blood sugar compared to those
who were given white rice or bread.
4. A Well-tolerated Wheat
Alternative for Children and Adults with Celiac Disease
Although treatment of
celiac disease has been thought to require lifelong avoidance of the protein
gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats, recent studies of adults
have shown that oats, despite the small amount of gluten they contain, are
well-tolerated. Now, a double blind, multi-center study involving 8 clinics
treating 116 children newly diagnosed celiac disease suggests oats are a good
grain choice for children with celiac disease as well. The children were
randomly assigned to receive either the standard gluten-free diet (no wheat,
barley, rye or oats) or a gluten-free diet with some wheat-free oat products.
At the end of the study, which ran for a year, all the children were doing
well, and in both groups, the mucosal lining of the small bowel (which is
damaged by wheat gluten in celiac disease) had healed and the immune system
(which is excessively reactive in celiac patients) had returned to normal.
These are many good
reasons to try oat bread. It tastes a bit different than the ‘regular’ bread but
you will enjoy it. You don’t have to fully give up on the white pita, just
alternate with other types of bread.
Source: The World’s
Healthiest Foods (http://www.whfoods.com)
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