As a heart patient it becomes extremely important that you take a healthy diet. Each and every food item going into your body should help improve your cardiovascular health and one such food item is oats!

We have all heard about oats being a great breakfast choice for weight loss but it also works like magic in keeping our heart healthy. As World Heart Day is just around the corner, at Health Shots are trying to spread awareness on how to have good cardiovascular health. And adding oats to your diet is a delicious way to inch closer to that health goal.

“Oats are a nutrient-rich food associated with lower blood cholesterol when consumed regularly,” says Dr Kiran Rukadikar, a Bariatric Physician and Obesity Consultant.

Here is why oats are good for the heart:

1. Helps in lowering our cholesterol

Cholesterol is needed to build healthy cells in our body but an increase in its levels leads to fatty deposits in our blood vessels which increases the risk of heart disease. Hence, low cholesterol is essential for good heart health and that’s where oats come in.

“Oat β-glucan (OBG), the main soluble fiber found in oats, is seen as the main active component responsible for their cholesterol-lowering effect. Health claims regarding the association between cholesterol lowering and soluble fiber from oat products have been approved by food standards agencies worldwide,” says Dr Rukadikar.

2. Rich in nutrients needed for the heart

Oats are a powerhouse of nutrients that help in keeping our heart alive and kicking. Dr Rukadikar explains the nutritional value of oats, which is: each 100 gm of raw uncooked oats will give 390 calories energy, 66 gm of carbs, 11.5 gm of dietary fiber, 17 gm of proteins, and 7 gm of fat. It has good amounts of Vitamin B1, B5, and some minerals like iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, etc. which are key minerals needed to keep our heart healthy. The soluble fiber beta- glucans is 4 gm.

3. Promotes weight loss and protects the heart

Unhealthy eating habits, high cholesterol and being overweight are all connected with each other and directly affect our heart in a very negative way. It is very important for a heart patient to eat light and healthy foods and keep his/her weight in check. This is where oats help. High fiber content of oats makes it perfect for weight loss by keeping us full for longer periods of time.