Porridge bars can be healthy, providing fiber, protein, and sustained energy from oats, but their healthiness heavily depends on ingredients; store-bought versions are often high in added sugar and fat, making homemade options with whole oats, nuts, and minimal sweeteners a much better choice for a nutritious snack or quick breakfast.
Are porridge oat bars healthy? As long as they're homemade and not chock full of sugar, then yes! Most of the breakfast biscuits, granola bars and other breakfast bars in the shops are full of sugar and preservatives.
12 Healthiest Snack Bars According to a Dietitian
Oat Bars vs Granola Bars
And while granola bars are not diet-friendly, oat bars can help you lose weight, as long as you're eating healthy oat bars that are low in sugar and contain fiber and protein and stick to one serving. Granola bars often have little protein and fiber and a lot of sugar.
Instant porridge is fine if you stay away from flavoured or sweetened versions. Even healthy-sounding flavours such as apple and blueberry generally contain added sugars. The added sugars and calories in these types of porridge mean they are not healthy options for weight loss or for people with diabetes.
One line of reasoning used to argue oats aren't healthy is that eating them can lead to spikes in blood sugar (glucose). This seems to be linked to the rising use of glucose monitors by people who don't have diabetes.
Larger (rolled) oats are digested more slowly than cut oats. Making oatmeal with milk can add additional nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12 and protein. But even if your porridge is made with water, oats are a good source of manganese, phosphorous and zinc, as it is.
Steven Gundry warns that oats contain a gluten-like lectin, which may trigger immune responses in gluten-sensitive individuals, potentially leading to intestinal damage and systemic inflammation.
Under 100 Calorie Cereal Bars
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Research shows that a daily bowl of oatmeal can reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering your total cholesterol and artery-clogging “bad” cholesterol.
Reach for one of these seven bars when you need a quick breakfast.
Eating oatmeal every morning for 30 days boosted energy and improved digestion. It also helped with slight weight loss and overall well-being. The high fiber in oatmeal was key to these benefits.
Yes, original Cheerios are generally considered a healthy choice as they're made from whole-grain oats, low in sugar, high in fiber (especially soluble fiber to help with cholesterol), and fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, making them a good part of a heart-healthy diet, though it's important to choose the plain version and watch out for sugary flavored varieties.
The No. #1 unhealthiest cereal according to dietitians is Honey Smacks. According to Routhenstein, “Honey Smacks is loaded with added sugars, containing 18 grams per serving, which accounts for 72% of the daily added sugar limit for women and 50% for men, based on the American Heart Association's recommended limits.
Dr. Gundry recommends lectin-free options like pasture-raised eggs, avocado with MCT oil/ olive oil, nuts (walnuts, macadamias, pistachios), and sheep/ goat yogurt/ coconut yogurt for breakfast, often delaying it or eating calories in a short window; he advises against typical cereals, oats, and cow's milk yogurt due to lectins, promoting foods that support gut health.
Dr. Gundry eats a lot of plants, and they're one of his primary protein sources. In fact, his favorite protein hack is to choose vegetables with high protein content, including three on this list: avocados, walnuts and kale. Other favorites include all leafy greens of all kinds, mushrooms, pecans and pistachios.
Oats can cause gas and bloating. To minimize side effects, start with a low dose and increase slowly to the desired amount. Your body will get used to oat bran and the side effects will likely go away. When applied to the skin: Lotion containing oat extract is possibly safe to use on the skin.
“Jumbo”, “rolled” and “steel-oats” are the most natural porridge varieties with the biggest health benefits for our breakfast bowls. “Quick oats” are processed although they still offer more nutrition than the instant sachets and pots.