Power Food: Oats

Oats are a perfect food for active people of all ages and ideal for endurance runners – they are full of essential nutrients, provide a variety of healthful benefits, are inexpensive, versatile and delicious. Find out more about this month’s power food and give our Oats Recipes a try - Cold Breakfast Oatmeal and Savory Oat Groats and Kale - You won’t be sorry!

• Manganese
Manganese is a mineral you might not often hear about, but it is a powerful antioxidant that plays a key role in a variety of processes, such as regulating blood sugar levels, activating enzymes responsible for digestion and utilization of key nutrients, breaking down fats and cholesterol and in the production of energy. Oats are very high in manganese, offering 68% RDA per 1 cup of cooked oats.


• Selenium
A very important mineral for anyone leading an active lifestyle. It helps protect your cells from free-radical damage (intense activity has been shown to increase free-radical generation), critical to maintaining proper function of the thyroid (a properly functioning thyroid is essential to a healthy metabolism) and it helps lower your risk of joint inflammation, which is especially important to athletes, such as runners, who put a lot of pressure on their joints. Oats are a very good source of selenium, providing almost 27% of your daily requirement.


• Tryptophan
An essential amino acid that the body uses to synthesize protein, it's also a precursor for serotonin, which helps the body regulate appetite, sleep patterns and mood: All important factors in maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. One cup of cooked oats provides you with almost 25% of your daily recommended intake.


• Phosphorus
Phosphorus is an important component in bone health – it works with calcium to build and maintain healthy bones. It is also involved in the production of energy and maintaining the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance.


• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Thiamine plays an important part in helping the body convert carbohydrates into energy, as well as processing carbohydrates, fat and protein.


• Source of Fiber
Oats are a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, which offer a host of benefits such as regulating blood sugar levels, helping to lower cholesterol and helping to protect against heart disease (for more information on the health benefits of fiber, click here).


• Magnesium
Magnesium is a very important mineral that most of us do not get enough of. It plays a key role in keeping the heart healthy, strengthening bones and increasing the absorption of other key minerals, such as calcium. Oats are high in magnesium, providing 14% of the RDA of magnesium.


• Protein
Although oats are generally thought of only for their carbohydrate contribution, they are also a good source of protein, providing over 6g per cup. For those who are very active and require a lot of additional protein in their diet, adding oats to meals, smoothies and shakes can be a great (and delicious) way to add in protein and also provide stable slow-burning energy at the same time.