For people who prefer the taste and texture of old-fashioned oats for their morning oatmeal, rolled oats are the only obvious choice. They are made from the oat groats that are extracted from the oat grain. Oat grains have a tougher outer hull that is removed, allowing the interior of the grain to be steam treated in order to further soften the grain. Once the oat grains are steamed properly, the grain is run through an oat roller, creating the flat oats that are used as a hot breakfast cereal or in a number of different recipes.
Rolled oats are available in two different forms. Thick versions are larger whole flakes that are often used to prepare old-fashioned oatmeal and as an ingredient in a number of sweets, such as oatmeal raisin cookies and granola. Thin versions are smaller flakes that are broken into much smaller flakes, and are ideal for uses in such items as baby food and instant oatmeal. The thinner rolled oats can also be ground into a powder and used to prepare thick broths or as a thickener in stews.
This cereal is often considered to be an excellent choice when it comes to a healthy diet. In general, oatmeal made from rolled oats is understood to help reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. For people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes or are in a pre-diabetic condition, this cereal presents a much better choice than most processed cereals. Containing significant amounts of beta-glucan, rolled oats tend to help regulate blood sugar so that the individual is less likely to spikes in the body’s glucose level.
There are other healthy qualities that help make this food attractive for many people. As an excellent source of dietary fiber, iron, and thiamine, rolled oats can be a significant part of a healthy diet, requiring only a small amount to reap the benefits. They also have the advantage of possessing an antioxidant known as avenanthramides, which is very helpful in ridding the body of toxins that have built up over time.