20 reasons why Porridge Oats are jus deadly

abetarrush

Thanks to King of Kings for the link!

1. IMPROVES SEX LIFE

Porridge oats can boost libido by helping to re-balance testosterone and oestrogen in the body. Testosterone drives sexual desire in both sexes. Men with low testosterone levels go off sex.

2. GOOD FOR HANGOVERS

Oats neutralise acidity levels in the body and help absorb toxins. Since a hangover is the result of the "poisonous" effects of alcohol, a bowl of porridge might help relieve the symptoms.

Porridge also contains one of the highest levels of soluble fibre of any cereal. Soluble fibre is essential for healthy digestion. Since alcohol depletes sugar levels, the slow-releasing carbohydrates in porridge help redress this.

3. HELPS QUIT SMOKING

Compounds in oats can help calm the nervous system and reduce the craving for nicotine.

4. HEALS THE SKIN

Bathing in oat-based solutions can help problem skin. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory compounds in porridge oats can help conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Fill a sock or stocking with porridge oats and place in water for 20 minutes while bathing.

5. FIGHTS INFECTION

Of all the cereals, porridge has the best proportion of protein needed for growth and repair in the body and to help boost the immune system.

6. FIGHTS HEART DISEASE

Many studies have shown that eating fibre-rich food such as porridge reduces the risk of heart disease. But scientists in the U.S. found that porridge contains avenanthramides - chemicals that stop blood cells sticking to artery walls, preventing the fatty deposits that cause heart disease.

7. REDUCES DIABETES RISK SLOWLY

Digested foods such as porridge might cut the risk of developing non-insulin dependent diabetes by absorbing sugar from the gut and cutting the need for large quantities of insulin to be released.

8. HELPS CONCENTRATION

The slow releasing complex carbohydrates in oats sustain energy levels, allowing full concentration to be maintained. Complex carbohydrates also stabilise and raise blood sugar levels.

9. BEATS DEPRESSION

Porridge is high in Vitamin B6, which promotes the brain chemical serotonin. High levels of serotonin are associated with feelings of well-being and also aid relaxation and restful sleep. Levels of serotonin dip when sunlight is limited - i.e. during winter - and can lead to the depressive condition Seasonal Affective Disorder.

10. BOOTS ENERGY

Porridge oats are high in complex carbohydrates and soluble fibre, which means they release energy slowly. A bowl of porridge should provide all the energy you need until lunchtime.

11. CUTS CHILDHOOD OBESITY

A study of 10,000 children by researchers at New York's Columbia University found that among those who regularly ate whole-oat products, the proportion of overweight children almost halved.

Researchers at Oxford Brookes University also found that those eating foods with a low glycaemic index (GI), such as porridge, were less likely to binge on sugary snacks. Foods with a low GI rating release glucose into the body more slowly and evenly, leaving you feeling fuller for longer.

12. LOWERS CHOLESTEROL

Porridge is rich in soluble fibre, which has been shown to lower blood cholesterol. High cholesterol occurs when fat builds up and constricts the arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart. Eating oats can improve blood flow and bind to cholesterol in the gut, aiding its removal from the body. Scientists think the cholesterol-lowering effects of oats are due to the oat soluble fibre beta-glucan.

13. PREVENTS CONSTIPATION

High-fibre foods such as porridge increase the movement of food through the digestive tract.

This increased bowel action provides a good environment for beneficial bacteria in the gut to ferment while decreasing levels of destructive bacteria.

14. FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

Porridge oats are blended with milk, making an excellent source of calcium which is essential for bone health. Lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis, which involves a loss of bone density and can make bones fragile.

15. CAN HELP DIETING

Porridge oats are 100 per cent natural, with no added sugar, salt or additives, and are naturally low in calories. An average bowl of porridge made with water contains 171 calories.

16. GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Porridge is a source of folic acid. Studies have shown that taking folic acid from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy can reduce the chances of having a baby with spina bifida. Pregnant women need 400mcg of folic acid a day.

17. FIGHTS CANCER

Oats are rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, which protects the body from the damaging free radicals that can cause cancer. A diet high in soluble fibre foods such as porridge oats might also help reduce the chances of developing bowel, colon and breast cancer.

18. CONTAINS ESSENTIAL MINERALS

Porridge is a good source of manganese, which is essential in allowing the body to produce energy as well as helping to build bones and connective tissue. It also contains zinc, which is needed for normal growth, sexual development and reproduction, and a healthy immune system.

19. REDUCES BLOOD PRESSURE

A daily serving of oats can improve blood pressure control and reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication, according to U.S. researchers - 73 per cent of those fed a wholegrain oat-based cereal (containing 3g of soluble fibre) stopped or reduced their blood pressure medication by half.

20. COULD HELP LONG LIFE

Britain's longest living man, David Henderson, from Montrose, Scotland, who died in 1998 at 109, attributed his age and good health to a daily bowl of porridge. This could be because the lipids present in oats contain a good balance of essential fatty acids which have been linked to longevity and general good health.

Degsy

Do you work for Flahavans or something?:D
Porridge is good though...

ball ox

you forgot "cures cancer" and "ends world poverty" :rolleyes:

Gillo

Yeah, but fry's taste better, it's not endorsed by Tony the Tiger & it doesn't turn the milk chocolatly.

Having said that I still have a bowel most days.

tw0nk

I want to start eating porridge but I dont want end up covering it in sugar and taking all the good out of it, any nice servings suggestions? also what way do you make it? with milk or just water?

g'em

gillo wrote:

Having said that I still have a bowel most days.

how do you digest your bowl of whatever on the days when your bowel isn't working?

g'em

tw0nk wrote:

I want to start eating porridge but I dont want end up covering it in sugar and taking all the good out of it, any nice servings suggestions? also what way do you make it? with milk or just water?

Try adding a pot of oranic ypghurt to it- natural sweetness. Or a teaspoon of honey and some fruit. Porridge does take some time to get used to, and plenty of people don't liek eating warm cereal on hot summer days, so sometimes I just throw the oats + milk + yoghurt into the blender and make a smoothie. Yum-ness.

tw0nk

g'em wrote:

sometimes I just throw the oats + milk + yoghurt into the blender and make a smoothie. Yum-ness.

Ooh i like the sound of that, and maybe il finally start using my smoothy machine , cheers for that suggestion..

daymobrew

tw0nk wrote:

I want to start eating porridge but I dont want end up covering it in sugar and taking all the good out of it, any nice servings suggestions? also what way do you make it? with milk or just water?

I used to microwave my porridge but my mother-in-law showed me a slow-cook method which is much nicer, though takes a bit of time.
60grams of porridge oats, 300millitres of water; cook over low heat for 30 mins. Add milk and mix well. Add sugar/honey/raisins/whatever.
It's gorgeous.

abetarrush

well Ive dramatically cut my sugar intake in the last month or so, so i can afford to have 1 tsp of sugar in my porridge

I hate honey, and raisins werent nice

ronbyrne2005

A little sugar does no harm, the oats will reduce the glycemic index of the sugar. better to eat a bowl of oats with two spoons of sugar than a bowl of conventional "cereal" with loads of sugar and salt.

daveirl

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TerrorFirmer

I use the microwave, with milk and honey or sugar. Some mornings I barely have time to microwave it, let alone do it in such luxorious style as over the stove!

topdog8

oats taste horrible but. when i was dieting last year a friend of mine who is a body builder made out my diet. he had me taking this one meal which consisted of oats protein powder, tuna and a bannana all blended together with water. i think how i lost the weight was by being sick all the time. LOL!!!

soma

I've been eating the "Microwavable Quick Oats" from Flahavans (cylindrical shaped tin). I really like it & usually add fruit instead of sugar.

I was just wondering if this product is as good for you as the more 'traditional' Oats products..? Am I losing any benefits (or is there anything hidden) by using a microwavable product..?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

SprostonGreen

I eat with Yoplait natural yoghurt, its great.

liamo

tw0nk wrote:

I want to start eating porridge but I dont want end up covering it in sugar and taking all the good out of it, any nice servings suggestions? also what way do you make it? with milk or just water?

Water, a handful of raisins and a sliced banana.

abetarrush

daveirl wrote:

This post has been deleted.

yeah, i asked this before


Is there a major difference between brown and white sugar? I know white sugar is BAD, how does brown compare?


And yeah, you can microwave normal oats, thats wha i always do

1 glass of milk
3/4 glass of oats

microwave for 3 mins and stir

rocketscience, i know

lukegriffen

soma wrote:

I've been eating the "Microwavable Quick Oats" from Flahavans (cylindrical shaped tin). I really like it & usually add fruit instead of sugar.

I was just wondering if this product is as good for you as the more 'traditional' Oats products..?

Yes you're losing a lot, though not exactly sure what. I saw it on the glycaemic index, and they had quick oats in a 'poor' category. Although
anything quick is considered bad on the GI scale.

Try the oats in lidl, really nice, a finer quality than flahavans, only 30-odd cent, and they're bound to be 'quick' cooking.

Chucky the tree

g'em wrote:

I just throw the oats + milk + yoghurt into the blender and make a smoothie. Yum-ness.

How do you manage to blend your oats? Last time i stuck some into a blender they didnt blend well at all. Sounded like it was breaking the blender. They seem to heavey to crunch up.

g'em

I just chuck them in the smoothie maker tbh. It's one of those heavy(ish) duty ones that will crush ice, so I'm guessing the oats are no problem for it.

abetarrush

yeah, sure Oats are soft, sure you didnt buy Goats by accident?!?

Chucky the tree

unless flavans make goats

Give it another try tomorrow.

abetarrush

Chucky the tree wrote:

unless flavans make goats

Give it another try tomorrow.

Haha, good stuff

the-lad

A microwave alternativeto the slow cook method is to cook the oaks on the defrost setting for a couple of minutes and then turn it up to medium for a few more. I find if you cook them on high power you end up with a rubber glup

Mo-Mo

It really did take me some time to actually enjoy porridge. The main problem was microwaving it too quickly and ending up with glue. Now I do it on the hob. It says to stir it constantly but you really don't have to once you stir it regularly enough over 5 mins.

Chop a banana into it before you start and some raisins and you get a lovely, banana gooey mess, top it with natural yogurt and you have a gorgeous brekky. Although I sometimes have it for dinner if I want something quick.

BaZmO*

Chucky the tree wrote:

How do you manage to blend your oats? Last time i stuck some into a blender they didnt blend well at all. Sounded like it was breaking the blender. They seem to heavey to crunch up.

Why don't you soak them over night in water?

The way I normally have them is to soak one cup of oats and two cups of water in a saucepan overnight. Then in the morning I just drain off the excess water, add milk and then heat on the gas. Then I just add honey.

I never thought about putting them in a smoothie as an alternative to having a hot breakfast in the morning. At least if you soak them overnight you have an option to do both.

Kambika

After reading this posts yesterday I went to the supermarket and bought myself some oats and honey. Tried it this morning at work with milk and a spoon of honey, microwaved it for 5 minutes and to be honest, it's actually quite nice! I will definetely continue eating them

King of Kings

the king is well impressed!!

Been using oats in smooties for ages.
I find that (apart from being healthy) they thicken the smootie and keeps me full for a long time.

Fast_Mover

tw0nk wrote:

what way do you make it? with milk or just water?

Microwave..put in on for a few minutes and stir now and again.

I do one cup of oats to two cups of liquid.
I make mine with half water half milk.

abetarrush

Kambika wrote:

After reading this posts yesterday I went to the supermarket and bought myself some oats and honey. Tried it this morning at work with milk and a spoon of honey, microwaved it for 5 minutes and to be honest, it's actually quite nice! I will definetely continue eating them

Yay, another person converted into our Oat religion

muahahahahahaha

ThrownAway

I think porrige is nice. It's really easy to make.

Get a saucepan...add 1 cup of oats... 1 cup of milk... and 1 cup of water
keep stiring and wait till its bubbling ...thats it.

I tried putting in yogurt in with it but it was disgusting

Used to put sugar in with it but can't eat it now

LegacyUser

porridge rocks, always loved it.

my only problem with it is the amount of time it takes to make a nice bowl of it in the morning, compared to a bowel of corn flakes, legging it out the door with a bananna.

idealy, i'd like to go for a 45 min run in the morning, then shower/shave, then make a nice bowel of porridge.

i'd also like to be boinking Jessica Alba

cormie

I use Flahavans Organic porridge, the 1KG cream packet. I fill a bowl half way with porridge and then put enough water in to cover the lot but not have it too flowy. I then put in some Homecook (brand name) raisins and mix it around and put the lot into the microwave for 2.5 mins. I take it out, mix it about and then top up the bowl with cornflakes and drench with soya milk. Yum!

iregk

for the smoothy the best thing to do is to go to a health food shop and you can buy oats in ground down form. there for all your blender does is mix them with wather liquid your using!

thats what i do... buy two bags of organic oats, the full size and the ground down.

gline

i only started eating porridge in the last month as i was eating a fry AND 2 danish pasteries every morning so i got fat

im not sure if it helps lose weight but it is healthy as it diqlls u up and stops from eating other crap, tbh though i odnt like the taste at all no matter what i put in it, but il persevere with it

inigo

The other day I had a very quick look at Tesco's porridge. I seem to remember it had around 60% oats, the rest oats flour and added B vitamins... It'd be nice to have the B vits for the energy boost, not sure about the oats flour. Any thoughts on this?

I might after all start eating porridge again. I used to love it but had to give it up because it made me go to the loo far too regularly!!:o

Kolodny

I'm still not bored of my daily porridge with a bit of soya milk and and honey breakfast but there are some great ideas here for variation!

porridge

jayteecork

Just bought a 1.5KG bag of Flavahan's porridge down in Super Valu for about 2 euro.
It's very nice with some natural yoghurt.

don't even ask me how I found this thread.

NewFrockTuesday

As an official porridge hater, I posted here a few weeks ago in an effort to find some way of making it palatable.

Someone suggested making pancakes out of them by blending them with milk ....and an eggs I presume (?). Im going too try this tomorrow so will post as to how good/bad they turn out. I need to start eating this superfood!

Khannie

The pancakes are super. Best to leave the oats soaking overnight though. Milk, oats and eggs all blended up will make you a nice batter alright. I use some unflavoured whey in mine (you could throw in some cottage cheese for added protein). Had some this morning. NYOM!

NewFrockTuesday

Thanks Khannie.

So...


Soak the oats over night in full fat (?) milk

On the morrow, blend with eggs - say 1 eggs per 1/4 pack the big Flahavans?

salt?

Cottage cheese (yok:eek: - I like it about as much as I like porridge, btu am thinking it cant be tasted as it is blended...please tell me Im right! )

So what can I put on top of the pancakes? Im thinking this will be my main carb intake for the day so Ill be having say 2 hand sized pancakes....that should be just over the normal quantity of oats.

What about scrameled eggs with the cakes?


How does that sound?

My lunch is going to be brown rice and chicken salad and evening meal is chicken breast and brocolli and grilled tomatoes.


What do ye think? Snamks are nuts and dried fruit with 2lt water being drunk.

Exercise = 5k run and hoola hoop! (dont laugh!)

rubadub

abetarrush wrote: »

Porridge oats are 100 per cent natural, with no added sugar, salt or additives, and are naturally low in calories. An average bowl of porridge made with water contains 171 calories.

I consider them quite high in calories, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

soma wrote: »

Am I losing any benefits (or is there anything hidden) by using a microwavable product..?

No real need, regular ones microwave fine if done right and cost a fraction of the price. No need to cook them at all though. Lately I just have whey powder, coconut flour, oats & milk.

the-lad wrote: »

A microwave alternativeto the slow cook method is to cook the oaks on the defrost setting for a couple of minutes and then turn it up to medium for a few more.

I would do the opposite, medium to get them warmed up fairly quick, then defrost just to supply enough power to keep them at that temp. If soaked overnight it helps a lot.

The pancakes are super. Best to leave the oats soaking overnight though.

Yes, all pancake batter is best left overnight since it fully hydrates the flour. If you make thick ones you can freeze them or store in the fridge, then pop in the toaster in the morning.

I make savoury pancakes too or ones with curry powder and sometimes onion in them. Then dip them in spicy sauces with dinner.

Just follow any old pancake recipie and sub in oat flour for wheat flour. If you get a big bag you can do it in a blender dry and store as regular flour. I expect some health shops do oat flour anyway. Becareful of cheapo oats though, compare the nutritional info to a decent brand, many have very little fibre, they are really the leftover processing waste from making fibre supplements (same goes for mushy peas, the leftovers from extracted pea protein & fibre).

Money Shot

I don't even bother cooking them. I just throw the oats in a bowl with some milk and bobs your uncle. I think they're lovely like that, although I haven't found anyone to agree with me yet.

If I have time at the weekend, I might cook some up with some honey, raisins and sliced banana. Either that or a full fry up - mood depending.

rubadub

Money Shot wrote: »

I think they're lovely like that, although I haven't found anyone to agree with me yet.

Plenty here do that. For sweetness I sometime put a little honey or maple syrup in the bowl first, then add a little milk and mix it in, then add more and more so you have fully dissolved sweet milk, then add the oats. I also add whey for extra protein.

Some people think they have to be cooked or something, oats is just muesli without the nuts & fruit!

doctor_gonzo

I eat pinhead porridge rather than the flakes because it retains more of the nutrients. Once the grain is split it starts losing vitamins etc. Also it's less gloupy and definitely has a bit more of a flavour. I just soak them overnight and then it's only 5 minutes in the pot with a bit of water and skimmed milk. Yummy!

Khannie

Deepsense wrote: »

Soak the oats over night in full fat (?) milk

Up to yourself. I actually use water because I'm adding all the whey in.

Deepsense wrote: »

On the morrow, blend with eggs - say 1 eggs per 1/4 pack the big Flahavans?

Couldn't say tbh. My own recipe varies but I generally use 100g of oats, 100g of whey, 1 egg and water. Forgot to say, I make american style pancakes (i.e. small and relatively thick) not crepes. Been adding a dash of vanilla extract recently too. Nice that. Experiment a bit yourself.

Deepsense wrote: »

salt?

I don't bother. Up to yourself.

Deepsense wrote: »

Cottage cheese (yok:eek: - I like it about as much as I like porridge, btu am thinking it cant be tasted as it is blended...please tell me Im right! )

Yeah, I doubt you'd notice the flavour. Worth trying once anyway.

Deepsense wrote: »

So what can I put on top of the pancakes?

Butter and jam! Nyom! Syrup. etc. whatever you want really.

Reyman

Money Shot wrote: »

I don't even bother cooking them. I just throw the oats in a bowl with some milk and bobs your uncle. I think they're lovely like that, although I haven't found anyone to agree with me yet.
.

I'm with that recipe exactly! Warm milk and 150 gm Flahavans oats (Jumbo only) and I'm right for the morning.

Microwaves, blenders, honey, sugar etc. are for wimps . It's like using machines instead of the Real McCoy - free weights

eclectichoney

Reyman wrote: »

I'm with that recipe exactly! Warm milk and 150 gm Flahavans oats (Jumbo only) and I'm right for the morning.

150gm!! :eek::eek:

I love my prridge, but I'd be the size of a house with that amount!

SAVE_ME.222

The way I eat porridge is mixing about 5 big scoops of ice cream any flavour but strawberry ,chocolate, mint are nice. It melts into the porridge creating a delicious snack, morning, noon or night.