--- title: 3 Reasons to Avoid Oatmeal description: We’re being told oatmeal is going to help reduce our cholesterol levels. When your oatmeal is full of sugar and natural flavors, how good can it be? image: https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20Image%20(34).png --- ![Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/wakeLogo.svg) - [About](https://jensmiley.com/about/) - [Speaking](https://jensmiley.com/speaking/) - [Podcast](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Clean Eating Academy](https://wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Contact Wake Up!](https://jensmiley.com/contact/) ![Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/wakeLogo.svg) - [About](https://jensmiley.com/about/) - [Speaking](https://jensmiley.com/speaking/) - [Podcast](https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Clean Eating Academy](https://wakeupandreadthelabels.com/) - [Contact Wake Up!](https://jensmiley.com/contact/) [Harmful Ingredients](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/harmful-ingredients) # 3 Reasons to Avoid Oatmeal May 17, 2023 **Written By:** [Wake Up and Read the Labels](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/author/wake-up-and-read-the-labels) 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](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/whats-the-difference-between-natural-and-artificial-flavors)), 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](https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-phytic-acid). 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](https://www.webmd.com/cancer/herbicide-glyphosate-cancer). The [Environmental Working Group](https://www.ewg.org/research/breakfast-dose-roundup) 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](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/what-is-enriched-wheat-flour), 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](https://youtu.be/Tu2g5hKtfBE)!   Ready for more clean swaps? Download our [Free Morning Guide](https://start.wakeuplife.com/morningguide) so that you can learn about 3 common foods that are killing your energy and ruining your mornings. ##### Here at Wake Up and Read The Labels, we help people learn how to read ingredient labels on the food they eat. We are not licensed, medical professionals. We are here to educate. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians. #### Share On Social [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/3-reasons-to-avoid-oatmeal%20&body=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/3-reasons-to-avoid-oatmeal](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/3-reasons-to-avoid-oatmeal%20&body=Check%20out%20https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/3-reasons-to-avoid-oatmeal) ### Subscribe to Our Newsletter ## Keep Reading [Clean Swaps](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/clean-swaps) July 31, 2024 ### Three Harmful Foods with Misleading Health Claims In our quest for a healthier lifestyle, we often turn to foods that promise to deliver essential nutrients and health benefits. However, some of these so-called healthy options are hiding harmful ingredients... [Read More](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/three-harmful-foods-with-misleading-health-claims) [Clean Swaps](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/clean-swaps) January 10, 2023 ### How To Choose A Chocolate Bar Made With Real Ingredients Chocolate tends to be a staple in most people’s diets. There’s no shortage when it comes to chocolate treat options, and you can usually find the tasty treat at any store you go to. Seriously… convenience... [Read More](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/how-to-choose-a-chocolate-bar-made-with-real-ingredients) [Clean Swaps](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/tag/clean-swaps) March 02, 2023 ### 3 Things to Look For When Choosing Almond Milk People like to think that they’re choosing a “healthier” option when they choose almond milk over cow’s milk. But a lot of the popular almond milk options are full of unnecessary ingredients that can actually... [Read More](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/3-things-to-look-for-when-choosing-almond-milk) ![wakeLogo](https://news.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/hubfs/wakeLogo.svg) #### Our Services - [Clean Eating Academy](https://jensmiley.com/course/) - [Testimonials](https://jensmiley.com/testimonials/) #### More About Wake Up! - [Testimonials](https://jensmiley.com/testimonials/) - [Speaking Engagements](https://jensmiley.com/speaking/) #### Connect On Social [Privacy Policy](https://jensmiley.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms and Conditions](https://jensmiley.com/terms-and-conditions/)