We’re constantly being fed the line that oatmeal is going to help reduce our cholesterol levels and that it’s “heart healthy.”
First of all, when your instant oatmeal is packed full of sugar and natural flavors (aka chemicals), then how good can it actually be?
Second of all, there are some major issues related to oats that shouldn’t be ignored. We’ll cover some big ones below.
Oats Contain Phytic Acid
Phytic acid is what a lot of people refer to as an anti-nutrient. It gets this name because it blocks the absorption of some essential minerals that our bodies need such as:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Chromium
- Manganese
In the past, many people believed that soaking the oats would help to reduce the phytic acid, however, the water can still contain the phytic acid which then defeats the purpose!
Our bodies need nutrients, so let’s avoid consuming anything that’s going to block them from actually absorbing.
Oats Are Sprayed with Weed Killer
Yes, you read that headline correctly. Oats are commonly sprayed with a chemical called glyphosate, which is the main ingredient used in Round Up. Worst of all, it’s been linked to cancer.
The Environmental Working Group did a study and found that most oat based products contained some level of glyphosate. It’s not just oats that are sprayed with glyphosate, though. It’s used on many other crops such as wheat, soy, corn, etc.
Even some organic oats are considered to contain some level of glyphosate, so proceed with caution.
Oats Can Cause Bloating
We always like to say, what happens when you put oats in water? They expand, just like they do in your belly! Oats can cause some major discomfort and bloating for a lot of people.
At Wake Up and Read the Labels, we teach people the importance of finding foods made with real ingredients, but we also focus on helping people to feel good. That’s our main goal!
One of the common themes we hear when we begin working with clients is how they feel once they quit eating oats. Their bloating goes down, their belly loses inches, their gas goes away. They were seemingly unaware just how much the oats were actually affecting how they felt each day.
Many can’t believe how much of a difference they feel once they remove oats. It’s a game changer.
Why Wake Up Does Not Endorse Oatmeal
For all of the reasons above, Wake Up and Read the Labels simply says NO to oatmeal. There are too many factors contributing to health risks, plus we’ve seen time and time again just how poorly people feel while eating oats and how good they feel once they stop.
We’re never going to be victims to the marketing on the front of the labels, so just because something reads “heart healthy” or “good for cholesterol,” it doesn’t mean that product is going to cure all our heart or cholesterol issues.
It’s vital to pay attention to all the foods you’re eating and not to get mixed up by the marketing tactics.
What’s a Clean Swap for Oatmeal?
Of course, there’s always a clean swap. There are actually multiple that we’ve found at Wake Up and Read the Labels, but one of our favorites is to actually use the pulp from making your own almond milk.
We recently shared a new video on YouTube, and we played a fun game of “Is It Clean?” We compared regular oatmeal to a clean swap and had contestants guess which was clean or not. SO much fun. Watch and learn just how you can make your own oatmeal and feel good!
Ready for more clean swaps? Download our Free Morning Guide so that you can learn about 3 common foods that are killing your energy and ruining your mornings.
