Porridge

ducie

Is Porridge the best breakfast for weight management?

sealgaire

Do you add tonnes of honey to it like I do?

ducie

sealgaire wrote: »

Do you add tonnes of honey to it like I do?

Jam!

who.dunnit

Porridge made with low fat milk and with raisins is yummy!!

--Kaiser--

Try scrambled eggs, more nutritious and will make you feel fuller

Wonkagirl

add some protein to the porridge, will help stabalise blood sugars.

spoon full of hemp, spoon full of crushed nuts, that kind of thing.

i'd agree with the eggs option being good too- i try to mix it up.

Magic Eight Ball

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Try scrambled eggs, more nutritious and will make you feel fuller

Try both together.

Sapsorrow

Nope not at all, talk about a carb overload. Eggs and bacon is a better option for weight loss believe it or not.

sudzs

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Nope not at all, talk about a carb overload. Eggs and bacon is a better option for weight loss believe it or not.

Yes but just eggs and bacon might leave you with a bunged up effect!

Whereas porridge is low salt, low fat, provides slow release complex carbohydrates, fibre both soluble and insoluble and if you're looking at calories, you get a heap more volume of porridge that will keep you satisified for longer than the bacon and eggs.

I'm a big porridge fan!

ducie

11 am. already had eggs, porridge or brown bread?

Magic Eight Ball

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Nope not at all, talk about a carb overload. Eggs and bacon is a better option for weight loss believe it or not.

Porridge and eggs?? Carb overload?? Are you for real?

Sapsorrow

sudzs wrote: »

Yes but just eggs and bacon might leave you with a bunged up effect!

Whereas porridge is low salt, low fat, provides slow release complex carbohydrates, fibre both soluble and insoluble and if you're looking at calories, you get a heap more volume of porridge that will keep you satisified for longer than the bacon and eggs.

I'm a big porridge fan!

There's a few points here I'd disagree with but my head isn't on right yet so I'll come back to it later if one of the other regulars doesn't do it for me. For now carbs = blood sugar spike = insulin overload = crash = cravings and preamture hunger. PProtein (as in bacon and eggs) won't have these effects and protein is much more satiating that carbohydrate. When you look into it the fibre does feck all the negate the effects on blood sugar or insulin spikes. Believe it or not I am in the process of researching the effects of oats on blood sugar for my nutrition blog, that's why I've all this floating about in my head at the moment. Porridge has it's good points but satiety and weightloss aren't two of them.

Magic Eight Ball wrote: »

Porridge and eggs?? Carb overload?? Are you for real?

Yes absolutely, will post a link later to show how porridge oats cooked with milk and nothing else raise blood sugar very high somwhere in the region of 110-150mmol. They may be low GL relative to most other foods, but are still nearly pure carbs and very quickly digested when cooked. Again sorry I can't offer a most insightful post right now, my coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

Khannie

Sapsorrow wrote: »

porridge oats cooked with milk

Lots of carbs in the milk don't forget so you can't attribute it all to the oats.

Lantus

Porridge is one of the best breakfasts you can eat!

When I talk about porridge I mean a natural oat, non sweetened. NOT ready break or similar.

It's a slow release complex carb that provides stable energy levels over time. It contains fibre.

Mix it with some natural low fat yogurt and fruit for taste and variety.

Carbs first thing are good for you! It's the body's A1 fuel source and aftr 10 hours of fasting you need carbs big time. If you a weight lifter then take some protein power as well but most people dont need it.

Poached egg on wholemeal toast would be another good one.

Shredded wheat is good. 100% wholegrain. DONT ADD SUGAR!!!

Sapsorrow

Khannie wrote: »

Lots of carbs in the milk don't forget so you can't attribute it all to the oats.

Big timme and lactose is particularly insuligenic which doesn't help. How many people eat oats cooked in water without any added for of sugar though, I think the OP already said they eat it with jam. Porridge on it's own is still a lot of carbs and will still wreak havoc on your hunger hormones and metabolism and won't make losing weight any easier. The original question was 'is porridge the best breakfast for weight loss' and the answer is undoubtadly no. If you are a very active or athlethic type not trying to lose weight and need appropriate fuel then porridge would make a good breakfast.

As far as calories go, calories aren't the be all and end all of weight gain or loss, if the right hormones (ie Insulin from carbs) aren't floating about in your blood in the first place when you eat them, then you don't get fat storage, that's why people on high calorie, high fat, low carb diets still lose impressive amounts of weight without necessarily generating a caloric deficit.

I know people get excited about different types of fibre and satiety and all that but it's not exactly the most sound theory in nutritional science by a long shot. I studied it in depth for one of my final year exams and I can't say I was particularly convinced.

Ugh where''s Temple with her nice clear and concise explanations of such things, I suck at expressing myself.

Khannie

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Ugh where''s Temple with her nice clear and concise explanations of such things, I suck at expressing myself.

Ah you're doing grand.

Not a huge porridge fan myself. Wouldn't be mental about a low carb breakfast either though (though I did have steak and eggs for breakfast this morning....savage!)

metamorphosis

If i was not so active id HOOGE. I always get in enough protein and fats everyday but carbs are so handy when your training for distance runs and cycles. Im generally 40/40/20 fats:carbs:prot - usually a little less % wise for protein

I actually notice a big difference is satiety from when i have oats in milk and oats in water. I generally add milled flax and cocoa but if i have it with milk its much creamier and a little sweeter and for me it triggers off a hunger response and i am much hungrier sooner than i am if i had oats in water with the same.

I do find eggs a great filler - big omlette for brekkie with veggies/ham/cheese and im not hungery for much longer.

I heart oats though - especially with dried figs, dats and chocolate cream whey - talk about sugar OVERLOADDDDDD. Great fuel for a good old run though

A new oat addition is actually raw cacao butter - not really edible by itself but letting it melt in to hot oats and stor it gives it a nice creamyish texture. Oh and peanut butter melted in too ... oh im so hungry now.

metamorphosis

Khannie wrote: »

Not a huge porridge fan myself.

Man - no need for those words ... no need.

Uncalled for almost ...

--Kaiser--

Lantus wrote: »

aftr 10 hours of fasting you need carbs big time.

That's nonsense, last Saturday I had 4 eggs for breakfast (trace amount of carbs), drove to Mayo and climbed Croagh Patrick and didn't eat again til 8 that evening. Why people think they need to 'carb load' when they are going to be relatively inactive for the day is beyond me

Magic Eight Ball

Some interesting facts about porridge, something I'm gonna have to follow up on myself.

My staple breakfast for the last year or so has been about 300-500g of oats mixed with water and milk and four eggs scrambled.

Anything less and I don't function.

Sapsorrow

Ya the thing is aswell is that there is a lot of individuality in terms of blood sugar response to carbs, so a serving of porridge may make my blood sugar sky rocket and not rise as darmatically at all for another, the point here being however, if you are already overweight and trying to shift a few pounds then you are more likely to be someone who's a bit sensitive anyway. If you're properly overweight or obese (and depending on a few other factors) then you are also more likely to be in at least the early stages of insulin resistance, so eating high carb meals is the last thing to do from a health as well as a weight loss perspective. The only way to know for sure is to use a blood sugar monitor and guinea pig yourself.

I would challenge anyone in need of a few pounds not to lose them simply by cutting their carbs though. I lived on a low GL, high fibre, low fat wholefoods vegan/veggie diet for years and still managed to lose a nice few pounds when I went low-carb/high-fat/paleo/ominvorous without even trying to lose them or exercising.

Also the idea that you need carbs for breakie is nonsense, if you're atheltic you need more carbs but why should they come from oats? What about fruit and veg? Much more nutritious foods in general, same goes for the fibre, plenty of that in fruit and veggies too along with lots of water, vitamins, minerals and less horrible anti-nutrients! You body can cope perfectly well with minimal carbs, we wouldn't have survived long as hunter-gatherers otherwise, we have an incredibly complex and adaptable metabolic system that has no qualms at all using protein, fats or carbs it's all turned into the same currency (ATP) at the end no matter the indredients you start off with.

One thing to point out though is thatif you are trying to lose weight then you want breakfast to be your most carb heavy meal as you are more likely to effectively use them up after breakfast than you are after dinner (when you're only likely to be sat in front of the telly). But in my opinion the best breakfast out there for weightloss would be an omelet with plenty of veg, scrambled eggs with a side salad or eggs and bacon. Bacon gets such a hard rap and it's totally unjustified as far as I can tell.

Porridge may be lower overall in calories but when you factor in the insulin response from the carbs (kicking your fat cells into storage mode) and the consequent need to eat again more frequently (at 11am break) that logic kinda goes out the window. Sure you can lose weight eating less calories, but I'd prefer to eat to fufillment with zero denial and lose weight just my tricking my metabolism if it were me.

I'd be interested to see solid proof of the satiating effects of fibre in oats too if anyone has some links because I'm finding it hard to find anything on pubmed or science direct that I can acess for free through UCC.

Sapsorrow

I've had about 4 cups of coffee since my post earlier today, can ya tell! :pac:

El_Dangeroso

I think you're explaining things quite clearly sapsorrow, no need for my help at all

My own 2c is that blood sugar is VERY individual when it comes to oats. Some people barely budge above 5.5 mmol/l after a big bowl of porridge. Me on the other hand, I'm starving 2 hours after oats and my BG s at 6.6 1 hour after, which is much higher than I like to keep it, plus me NEEDS protein first thing. Maybe there's a difference in genders? It does seem the people who get on well with porridge round here tend to be men, just a thought.

On the whole though porridge is far superior to any other breakfast that comes in a box. I saw the saddest thing in Tesco where they have the muesli, all bran, special K labelled 'Breakfast Cereals' and all the rubbishy(er) sugary, sweets masquarading as breakfast were labelled 'Kids Cereals'. Jesus wept.

One thing I will say is to soak you're oats in some water with yoghurt or kefir or any kind of fermentation starter overnight on the counter. You can skip the yoghurt part if the oats are not toasted, but they pretty much all are these days. This increases all the nutrition (they are a really good source of manganese and magnesium). You can't access the nutrients if you don't soak em, and the porridge will even rob your body of the ability to absorb minerals from anything else you eat with it too. I think this technique would work really well with the pancakes, in my grain eating days I used to love pancakes made with yoghurt instead of milk, much fluffier.:)

Sapsorrow

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

I think you're explaining things quite clearly sapsorrow, no need for my help at all

My own 2c is that blood sugar is VERY individual when it comes to oats. Some people barely budge above 5.5 mmol/l after a big bowl of porridge. Me on the other hand, I'm starving 2 hours after oats and my BG s at 6.6 1 hour after, which is much higher than I like to keep it, plus me NEEDS protein first thing. Maybe there's a difference in genders? It does seem the people who get on well with porridge round here tend to be men, just a thought.

On the whole though porridge is far superior to any other breakfast that comes in a box. I saw the saddest thing in Tesco where they have the muesli, all bran, special K labelled 'Breakfast Cereals' and all the rubbishy(er) sugary, sweets masquarading as breakfast were labelled 'Kids Cereals'. Jesus wept.

One thing I will say is to soak you're oats in some water with yoghurt or kefir or any kind of fermentation starter overnight on the counter. You can skip the yoghurt part if the oats are not toasted, but they pretty much all are these days. This increases all the nutrition (they are a really good source of manganese and magnesium). You can't access the nutrients if you don't soak em, and the porridge will even rob your body of the ability to absorb minerals from anything else you eat with it too. I think this technique would work really well with the pancakes, in my grain eating days I used to love pancakes made with yoghurt instead of milk, much fluffier.:)

Thanks but you have a nice calm and collected way of making your points, and much much better spelling

Interesting point about the men thing, I'd wager they're the young enough ones at that too considering we're on an internet forum. If that was the case they might find them a bit more fattening when they got older and less active.

Ya the breakfast cereal industry is a joke, and I agree oats if by FAR the best option as far as cereals go. But man if I could eat eggs (without getting sick like I do) I would live on them for breakfast everyday! They are so incredibly filling, I never needed to eat again before lunch when I had them for breakfast, it's quite amazing. I don't even find meat has quite the same satiating effect myself. Such a pity I can't eat them For the record I LOVE porridge (with cream mmm..) despite all my bashing, I just don't think it's the best weight loss breakfast.

I never tried using yoghurt in pancakes only in muffins but it sounds divine. I remember I used to get such an excellent texture in the muffins with it.

metamorphosis

Im actually going to get myself a blood glucose moniter this weekend since they seem to be going cheap in the pharmacies and see how i get on a few different foods. Sure be interesting. The only way to really know how a food is affecting my blood sugars

El_Dangeroso

Sapsorrow wrote: »

But man if I could eat eggs (without getting sick like I do) I would live on them for breakfast everyday! They are so incredibly filling, I never needed to eat again before lunch when I had them for breakfast, it's quite amazing. .

Out of interest have you tried eating the yolk without the white? It turns out that the white has most of the gut irritating components. The yolk has all the good stuff anyhow.

vard

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Nope not at all, talk about a carb overload. Eggs and bacon is a better option for weight loss believe it or not.

Incorrect.

Why the 'carbs are evil' brigade. I presume you've been on atkins is it?

talking healthy - nutritious and beneficial, oats (minus heapings of sugar) are probably the best start you can have. Excellent sustained energy - beyond good for exercise - one of the best high fibre foods - healthy fats, and plenty more.

Plus - fairly low calorie as they expand so much and keep you fuller with a small amount.

vard

vard wrote: »

Plus - fairly low calorie as they expand so much and keep you fuller with a small amount.

Low calorie isn't how I'd describe porridge!
Plus I was always starving soon after. Eggs and bacon much more filling

Sapsorrow

vard wrote: »

Incorrect.

Why the 'carbs are evil' brigade. I presume you've been on atkins is it?

Ha ha no never, I find your predictable assumption hillarious though!

Sapsorrow

vard wrote: »

Plus - fairly low calorie as they expand so much and keep you fuller with a small amount.

Geez you lot really are the fibre brigade, can someone provide an intervention trial to prove these claims about satiety I'd love to see some.

vard

People are going to believe what suits them. Nobody is offering any countering reason as to why a fry up as one person suggested.would be better than porridge.


There are a lot of people who will be able to tell you exactly how and why you are wrong, as well as individuals at next to 0 bodyfat who will resound the importance and benefits of oats...
I actually don't eat enough. I am in the gym 5 days per week doing the works, and I know I could get more if I included a cup of oats throughout the day.
honestly though, that's all besides the point.

You want to shed fat? You can eat what you like really. Obviously some ways are better than others - but in the end of the day it is Calories in vs Calories out.

So, yeah you could eat 2000 calories of oats and while you'll probably have a sore arse the day after, as long as you've burned more you will contribute to your goals.

Just find what works best for you.
If that's porridge, then tuck in.

Being healthy and maintaining weight is about eating sensibly. Not religiously.


edit - can't type for **** from this phone

Sapsorrow

vard wrote: »

People are going to believe what suits them. Nobody is offering any countering reason as to why a fry up as one person suggested.would be better than porridge.

Did you read the thread? By your above post it doesn't seem that you did, I explained myself in quite a lot of detail.

AmeliaPond

Personally, I eat porridge for breakfast.

I couldn't eat eggs for breakfast - I love them, and I know they're very healthy and full of lovely complete protein, but two (or even 3) eggs wouldn't satisfy me and I'd need a second breakfast in 40 minutes.

I do my porridge in water in the microwave and sweeten it with splenda. Most days I add a little something something to it before cooking: a tbsp of raisins and some cinnamon, a cut up banana, a chopped up apple etc. This adds a bit of extra fibre and some more taste as well, but I can eat it plain (and often do)



I think the best breakfast for weightloss is very individual. If you find porridge works for you, use that. If it doesn't, time to start experimenting with other options: wholemeal toast with soft cheese and smoked salmon perhaps?

rubadub

Interesting article about not eating breakfast

http://articles.elitefts.com/articles/nutrition/logic-does-not-apply-part-2-breakfast/

El_Dangeroso

rubadub wrote: »

Interesting article about not eating breakfast

http://articles.elitefts.com/articles/nutrition/logic-does-not-apply-part-2-breakfast/

I saw that, I'm not a breakfast eater most days so that article fits my confirmation bias nicely. I just eat when I'm hungry which happens to be about 11am, so I'm a brunch eater really.

Isn't it strange that you would get sick of eating the same dinner everyday but most people are happy to eat the exact same breakfast? People also tend to eat the breakfast of their own nationalities cuisine and balk at other options. In Japan it's a bowl of rice with a raw egg cracked into it, in India it's curried eggs. Don't think I could face either first thing tbh :P

Sapsorrow

Leftover curry is one of my favourite breakfasts, your tastebuds are so sensitive first thing all the spices are so intense it's incredible! Egg curry, gorgeous haven't had that in years. If you haven't tried it yet do! My first time trying it was when my mum made it as part of a spread of Indian food for my 18th birthday dinner years back. I've also been getting into well fried smoked mackeral in butter with tomatos, just as tasty as bacon first thing.

rubadub

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Isn't it strange that you would get sick of eating the same dinner everyday but most people are happy to eat the exact same breakfast?

It is, what I find even more strange is why pigs became the "breakfast animal" Bacon, pudding, sausages, all "OK" for breakfast but many think it very odd to eat chicken or beef for breakfast. What is so magical about pigs I will never know.

A woman in work used to always be commenting on my eating habits. I was asking her if she had timetables of when she is allowed eat foods. I could imagine her at home "hmm, I would love some cornflakes, but damn its 10.10am, just missed them by 10minutes, have to wait till tomorrow morning now!" or in the morning being starving but only having chicken in the fridge and so going without.

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Leftover curry is one of my favourite breakfasts, your tastebuds are so sensitive first thing all the spices are so intense it's incredible!

I like it too, I eat anything for breakfast, I never understood why the meals should be so different depending on what time of day it is. People used to think I was mad eating pizza, but what is pizza, -bread, tomato, cheese, sausage -the same people calling me mad are probably basically eating the same thing.

metamorphosis

Steak with hard cheddar melted on it with stir fried veggies for savage brekkie!

Sapsorrow

Oh god I grew up eating leftover cold homemade pizza for breakfast, I was slagged off no end in school over it. The idea of making your own pizza never mind eating leftovers (shock! horror!) was enough to make you a target for ridicule back then fecking eejits!

I got a load of aubergines reduced to ten cents each the last day so have a HUGE pot of beef and aubergine curry on the go, looking forward to leftovers in the morning. It's always so much tastier a day later. Oh on the topic, I love eating that really hardcore pataks hot lime pickle

changes

porridge and blueberries is a nice breakfast, throw them in late not as nice if they are very hot

metamorphosis

Well ... porridge sends my blood sugars rising alright - though i did have it with mixed dried fruit, also peanut butter. I was a little shocked.

El_Dangeroso

ULstudent wrote: »

Well ... porridge sends my blood sugars rising alright - though i did have it with mixed dried fruit, also peanut butter. I was a little shocked.

How high was it? It's perfectly normal to get a little rise out of any food at all. Did you eat it first thing on an empty stomach? Did you take your morning fasting glucose first? All these things will affect the results. Satiety is usually a good indication of blood sugar if you're insulin sensitive.

Sapsorrow

ULstudent wrote: »

Well ... porridge sends my blood sugars rising alright - though i did have it with mixed dried fruit, also peanut butter. I was a little shocked.

Try it with fresh fruit instead, although UL I really wouldn't worry about it in your case as you're extremely active everyday so the sugar won't stick around long anyway.

Sapsorrow

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

Satiety is usually a good indication of blood sugar if you're insulin sensitive.

How do you mean? As in if you get hungry to regularly you've got a problem?

El_Dangeroso

Sapsorrow wrote: »

How do you mean? As in if you get hungry to regularly you've got a problem?

Well, not exactly, because ghrelin can be 'trained' to make you hungry at different times, so if you normally eat 6 times a day, you'll get hungry 6 times a day.

But if you eat 3 times a day and you're hungry an hour after breakfast, that's a vague indication that you a) didn't eat enough, or b) what you did eat spiked your blood sugar.

Sapsorrow

Temple_Grandin wrote: »

But if you eat 3 times a day and you're hungry an hour after breakfast, that's a vague indication that you a) didn't eat enough, or b) what you did eat spiked your blood sugar.

Ah yes, I noticed this myself last weekend after drinking I was eating INSANE amounts of food for days after, it was on my mind non-stop! Whereas lately (before the bottle of gin and tonic ) since going paleo I've been barely eating two meals a day without thinking twice about it.

Khannie

rubadub wrote: »

What is so magical about pigs I will never know.

(Lisa) “I’m going to become a vegetarian”
(Homer) “Does that mean you’re not going to eat any pork?”
“Yes”
“Bacon?”
“Yes Dad”
"Ham?”
“Dad all those meats come from the same animal”
“Right Lisa, some wonderful, magical animal!”"

LeahK

See this is exactly why I get so confused, so many opinions and they are all different

As an almost constant dieter I would go as far as to say they are both pretty much the same in my eyes. Both have their good points!
Im no food scientist but I know my body/belly well. If I have porridge at 9am I get belly rumbles at 12.30, if I have eggs i get the same.

OP - find out which you like best cause both are great! I personally like to have my porridge in the morning (made with milk shock horror) and eggs for lunch time

I dont seem to lose any more weight eating one or the other! Once its not white toast/greasy fry up or some sugary cereal I think you'll be ok!:)

someday2010

I have 40g Porridge, 2 tablespoons of Flaxseed, 25g Casein Protein and 1 tablespoon of Psysilium Husks for breakfast.

I find that really satiating - no horrible eggs for me!

PrincessLola

Seriously you guys,:rolleyes:
Carbohydrates aren't evil. No nutrient is, and I suspect that like Fats they're being given a bad name here..
Weight loss actually IS as simple as calories in vs. calories out. I've steadily lost over two stone in the past year (down to nine stone now) eating a high carb breakfast every single morning.
Anyways it's been proven that people on high carb diets are better able to stick to their weight loss over time then low carb. It's more sustainable.

Adelie

PrincessLola wrote: »

Seriously you guys,:rolleyes:
Anyways it's been proven that people on high carb diets are better able to stick to their weight loss over time then low carb. It's more sustainable.

Can you give the link or reference for that please?