Many people love to buy oatmeal, but there are too many oat products on the market, such as rolled oats that need to be cooked, instant oatmeal, oat flakes, nutritional oat cereal, oat groats, oat noodles, and instant oat powder. How should you choose these oat products?
Li Zaigui, a professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University and a scientist specializing in functional ingredients and deep processing at the National Oat and Buckwheat Industry Technology System, pointed out in an interview with the Life Times that consumers should pay attention to the following aspects when purchasing and consuming oat products:
1. Read the ingredient list to distinguish between pure and impure oat flakes. The nutritional value of oat products is directly related to their oat content; for example, 100% pure natural oats are better than instant products with other added ingredients. When purchasing, carefully read the product's ingredient list. Pure natural oat products will only list "oats" in their ingredients, while products with lower nutritional value may also contain "vegetable fat powder," "white sugar," "maltodextrin," "food additives," and other ingredients.
2. Cook it whenever possible, as cooked oats are better than instant. The most highly valued health component of oats is beta-glucan, a water-soluble fiber that can lower blood lipids, reduce blood sugar, and provide a strong feeling of fullness. Beta-glucan in oats only becomes effective when it is dissolved. Therefore, it is recommended to cook oat flakes whenever possible. Even cooking for just 3 minutes can significantly increase the dissolution of beta-glucan, whereas the dissolution of beta-glucan in directly prepared instant oat flakes is relatively limited.
3. The stickier the oatmeal, the better. During the cooking process, oatmeal becomes increasingly viscous. This viscosity comes from its health-promoting component—beta-glucan. Professor Li Zaigui pointed out that the beta-glucan content in oats is related to factors such as its variety, processing technology, and cooking method. A higher beta-glucan content means greater viscosity, better health benefits, and a smoother texture. Additionally, Li Zaigui reminds consumers that many imported oats are actually less nutritious than domestic ones.