But, believe me, if you haven't tried it before, a little pinch of salt in your porridge works beautifully to enhance the flavours and bring added depth to your oats.
Salt your porridge. This is not a serving suggestion but a completely and utterly unbreakable rule. A little pinch of that really good flaky sea salt will make your porridge shine and explode with deliciousness and bring all the flavours of your honey (because you chose honey) out.
A Scottish porridge recipe from the past would once have been made in one large pot with just ground oats, water and a sprinkle of salt, as this is said to add depth to the flavour. Over time the addition of either milk, cream, sugar or buttermilk on the side became an option.
Salt suppresses bitterness and enhances perceived sweetness and overall flavor complexity. A small amount (typically 1/8--1/4 teaspoon per cup of dry oats) makes oats taste fuller and less bland.
Cooking your oats on low heat and allowing them to simmer slowly is the secret to coaxing out their natural starches, which makes the oatmeal creamy (low and slow, baby). High heat might seem like a shortcut, but it often leads to oatmeal that's unevenly cooked or too thick and sticky.
Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or mixed spice, or stir in vanilla extract, creamed or dessicated coconut or a touch of jam. Honey, maple syrup or agave if you fancy a sweet drizzle, or add granulated sugar either at the start of cooking or sprinkled over before serving.
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.
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.
High blood pressure is a silent killer due to the fact there seems to be few to no symptoms that one can feel. That's why it's important to get your blood pressure checked regularly. Too much salt in the diet is damaging to blood pressure and also vital organs.
According to Stevens, the best time to add salt to oatmeal is at the beginning. "When you add salt with your liquid and oats from the start, it has time to dissolve and distribute throughout," she shared. Stevens clarified that adding salt won't turn your morning oats into a savory dish.
The prevalence of adding salt during cooking and food consumption was higher among Aborigines compared with Europeans. Among country‐town Aboriginal males aged 35 or under, 25 of 40 (63 per cent) added salt to cooked food 'most of the time', compared with 66 of 185 (36 per cent) Europeans (χ2 = 9.8, P = 0.002).
Porridge made from rolled oats or ground oatmeal is common in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Finland and Scandinavia. It is known as simply "porridge" or, more commonly in the United States and Canada, "oatmeal". In the US, oat and wheat porridge can both be called "hot cereal".
The Irish seem to have found a good middle ground, using water or milk (or some combination) to cook the oats and then lightly sprinkling some brown sugar on top. For toppings, sweet things come to mind, whether syrups or jams, raw or poached fruits.
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.
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.
Major health organizations emphasize that: No single drink can cause fat loss on its own. Effective weight management depends on an ongoing calorie deficit created through diet and physical activity. Adding salt doesn't make water a fat burner.
Sugar and salt play important roles in the body's metabolic processes. However, overall, consuming too much sugar has a greater negative impact on the body than consuming too much salt.
A variety of citrus, habanero and salt created to replace regular salt. Use as a sprinkle, rub, rim for drinks, or anywhere you use salt.
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
Although this is not common among healthy adults, oats can produce some gastric swelling. This effect can simply be triggered by a sudden change in our diet, like going from eating not much fiber to eating a lot of oats without a smooth transition.
A Bowl of Oatmeal May Help Reduce Belly Fat
Another win for oatmeal's soluble fiber: It may help reduce visceral fat, the type of fat in your midsection that hugs your organs and raises your risk of heart disease and stroke — even if your body mass index is deemed normal, notes the AHA.
"Eggs and oatmeal can both be healthy breakfast options, but they offer very different benefits," says Natalie Rizzo, registered dietitian and TODAY nutrition editor. While eggs are packed with filling protein and nutrients like choline, "oatmeal delivers fiber and slow-digesting carbs," Rizzo says.
Oatmeal has anti-Inflammatory properties.
Any type of oats — steel cut, rolled or instant — provide health benefits, but the best of the best are steel cut oats since they are the least processed, offer a touch more nutritional value and are the lowest on the glycemic index.
Overnight oats, a popular breakfast choice, may not suit everyone, especially those with sensitive guts. While oats generally improve gut bacteria, soaking increases resistant starch, potentially causing bloating and discomfort. Phytic acid in oats can also hinder mineral absorption.