Oat Smart
A morning delight that’s good for your skin
By Shelley Burns
Originally published in Skin Deep, March/April 2009. Copyright 2009. Associated Skin Care Professionals. All right reserved.
We've all heard the old saying, you are what you eat. This is certainly true for oatmeal. Whether you are consuming old-fashioned rolled oats (which cook in five minutes), quick oats (which cook in one minute), or steel-cut oats (which cook in 30 minutes), you will reap the benefits oats deliver--radiant, smooth skin.
Oatmeal's nutritional benefits include antioxidants,
B vitamins, fiber, proteins, trace minerals, and soluble and insoluble fiber. Both soluble and insoluble fiber bind to toxins in the body and carry them away, resulting in reduced skin blemishes and the development of new skin cells.
Oat protein is similar in quality to soy protein and is equivalent to protein sources like eggs, meat, and milk. Collagen and elastin are two proteins essential to skin health and are the cement that binds skin cells.
Antioxidants and trace minerals protect collagen from breaking down. This will help promote skin rejuvenation and slow the aging process. B vitamins are also essential for ensuring cellular regeneration. They are responsible for protecting skin from environmental stressors and infection.
In spite of all these oatmeal-induced benefits, it may not be the most popular breakfast choice. If you find oatmeal bland, don't hesitate to dress it up. You can cook oatmeal in milk instead of water and sweeten it with Stevia--a natural sweetener available at health food stores--or maple syrup. Add fresh or frozen berries to the mix and you have a perfect meal with high quantities of calcium, fiber, and protein. A word of caution--instant oatmeal will not provide you with the same benefits as cooked oatmeal, as it contains refined sugar that is detrimental to the skin. Steel-cut oats, while they take the most time to prepare, are whole rather than rolled and are the healthiest for you.
Oatmeal not only strengthens skin from the inside out, but it has the ability to strengthen skin from the outside in. It is used in moisturizing products to help reduce rough, peeling, and cracked skin. Oatmeal can keep skin properly hydrated and moisturized. As an exfoliant, it also removes dead cells and reduces redness and irritation by removing dirt and oil from pores.
There are other health benefits associated with oatmeal, including its cancer-fighting properties and its reduction of risks associated with diabetes and heart disease. Recent studies show oatmeal helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), while raising good cholesterol (HDL).
So, go ahead and enjoy a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast during these lingering winter days. You will be healthier for it and your skin will thank you.
Shelley Burns, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, completed studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has certification in complementary and integrative medicine from Harvard University. Reach her at shelley.burns@scientahealth.com or 416-222-5880.
We've all heard the old saying, you are what you eat. This is certainly true for oatmeal. Whether you are consuming old-fashioned rolled oats (which cook in five minutes), quick oats (which cook in one minute), or steel-cut oats (which cook in 30 minutes), you will reap the benefits oats deliver--radiant, smooth skin.
Oatmeal's nutritional benefits include antioxidants,
B vitamins, fiber, proteins, trace minerals, and soluble and insoluble fiber. Both soluble and insoluble fiber bind to toxins in the body and carry them away, resulting in reduced skin blemishes and the development of new skin cells.
Oat protein is similar in quality to soy protein and is equivalent to protein sources like eggs, meat, and milk. Collagen and elastin are two proteins essential to skin health and are the cement that binds skin cells.
Antioxidants and trace minerals protect collagen from breaking down. This will help promote skin rejuvenation and slow the aging process. B vitamins are also essential for ensuring cellular regeneration. They are responsible for protecting skin from environmental stressors and infection.
In spite of all these oatmeal-induced benefits, it may not be the most popular breakfast choice. If you find oatmeal bland, don't hesitate to dress it up. You can cook oatmeal in milk instead of water and sweeten it with Stevia--a natural sweetener available at health food stores--or maple syrup. Add fresh or frozen berries to the mix and you have a perfect meal with high quantities of calcium, fiber, and protein. A word of caution--instant oatmeal will not provide you with the same benefits as cooked oatmeal, as it contains refined sugar that is detrimental to the skin. Steel-cut oats, while they take the most time to prepare, are whole rather than rolled and are the healthiest for you.
Oatmeal not only strengthens skin from the inside out, but it has the ability to strengthen skin from the outside in. It is used in moisturizing products to help reduce rough, peeling, and cracked skin. Oatmeal can keep skin properly hydrated and moisturized. As an exfoliant, it also removes dead cells and reduces redness and irritation by removing dirt and oil from pores.
There are other health benefits associated with oatmeal, including its cancer-fighting properties and its reduction of risks associated with diabetes and heart disease. Recent studies show oatmeal helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), while raising good cholesterol (HDL).
So, go ahead and enjoy a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast during these lingering winter days. You will be healthier for it and your skin will thank you.
Shelley Burns, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, completed studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has certification in complementary and integrative medicine from Harvard University. Reach her at shelley.burns@scientahealth.com or 416-222-5880.
