What are the benefits and harms of instant oatmeal. Fast and instant porridges

Dear friends, do you buy porridge for yourself and your family that does not require long cooking? This product is certainly very convenient and delights busy people. But this raises a number of questions. Is porridge healthy? instant cooking? What are the benefits and harms of such a dish? What should you pay attention to when choosing so-called instant porridges? I tried to understand this issue and analyze the opinions of nutritionists. I suggest you familiarize yourself with this information.

What types of instant porridges are there?

Depending on the production method, they are of two types:

Porridges that need to be boiled, but the cooking time is much shorter than that of its regular grain counterpart. When producing such a product, the cereal is doused with boiling water, as a result of which it becomes almost ready.
Porridges that just need to be poured with boiling water. After a few minutes, this porridge is ready to eat. Fast, tasty and convenient! You can't argue with that. But is instant porridge healthy? Nutritionists talk not only about the benefits, but also about the dangers of such a dish.

Instant porridge - benefits and harms

Harm of “instant” or instant cereals

Pathogenic microorganisms

As for the first type of cereals (which still need to be cooked), their danger is as follows. If the packaging loses its seal, harmful bacteria and fungi may be present inside the product. For them, processed cereals are a fertile environment for reproduction. That is why you should not ignore even minor packaging defects.

Bag material

In most cases, it is suggested to cook “quick” porridges in bags. But no one will give you a guarantee of the thermal stability of the material. By default it is considered harmless. But if for you good health comes first, it is better to cook this porridge without bags. To do this, just pour the contents into the pan.

The same applies to the cups in which the product is packaged. It is best to brew cereal not in it, but in a glass or porcelain container. I didn’t make this advice up, but learned it from an experienced nutritionist.

Amount of nutrients

This indicator depends on the method of processing the cereal. If modern biosaving technology was used, implying quick (5-10 seconds) exposure high temperature under pressure, there is virtually no loss of nutrients. It is perfectly! But such information must be indicated on the packaging. If it is not there, then there is no guarantee that you are eating a complete product.

Porridge very often instant cooking produced using other, cheaper technologies. As a result, the product loses a significant proportion of biologically important substances (for example, vitamins), as well as proteins.

Sugar

In most cases, manufacturers add a lot of sugar to instant grain products. And this is definitely harmful to your figure and health, especially when diabetes mellitus. With this disease, it is necessary to observe and carefully choose products for yourself.

A reduced amount of sugar is observed only in BP cereals of a therapeutic and prophylactic nature, that is, with special additives, for example, in the form medicinal plants. But more about this in the “Benefits of Porridge” section.

Flavors

If pieces of fruit or dried berries are used to flavor, improve taste and health, then everything is in order. But if they are absent from the mixture, and instead of them, flavorings identical to natural ones with the letter E are used, then the benefit quick porridge definitely changes to harm. Such products are especially not recommended for children.

A popular additive in fast food products is monosodium glutamate. Or in other words - a taste enhancer. If a person often consumes semi-finished products with monosodium glutamate, then an involuntary addiction to it occurs, since this substance affects taste buds, from which the signal goes to the brain. Such “deception” is fraught with excessive irritation of the digestive organs, toning nervous system, getting used to “tasty” high-calorie and stimulating food with additives.

It is important to remember that monosodium glutamate is present in large quantities in almost all instant foods, and not just cereals: mashed potatoes, noodles, pilaf, soups, bouillon cubes. If you do not control their consumption, then health problems cannot be avoided.

In this regard, I recall an incident from my life. Once I had the opportunity to travel on a train with a young mother who was feeding her seven-month-old baby mashed potatoes instant cooking. And from her words it was clear that such a lunch was not the first time for the boy. You can imagine how the little man’s body reacted to such food. Almost all the way, while the child was awake, he kept crying and screaming. It is a pity that many adults do not take into account the characteristics of a child’s body.

The benefits of instant porridge

Despite all the huge disadvantages of instant porridges, they have their advantages. But they are only available if the product was produced according to rules that take into account healthy nutrition. What benefits can instant porridge have?

Firstly, if they are made exclusively from grains and natural supplements(dried berries and fruits). A mixture devoid of flavor enhancers and artificial flavors, made according to modern technologies, retains a maximum of useful substances.

Secondly, many cereals have medicinal supplements in the form of powdered medicinal plants. The following are used as such:

burdock root;
chicory;
nettle leaf;
milk thistle seeds;
liquorice root;
plantain leaf;
Jerusalem artichoke tubers;
spirulina;
grape seeds;
beebread;
echinacea herb.

It is useful to eat such grain mixtures when various diseases. For example, porridges with nettle, alfalfa and burdock are indicated for stomach ulcers, heartburn, and stomatitis. A medicinal supplement in the form of plantain, echinacea and dandelion root makes rice or buckwheat porridge useful for diarrhea and liver problems. But porridge with Jerusalem artichoke, thanks to the inulin contained in the tubers of this plant, is definitely useful for diabetics.

Instant medicinal porridges should be introduced into the diet gradually and only after consultation with a doctor. This is explained by the fact that medicinal additives - strong remedy. In some cases, they may cause individual intolerance.

Thirdly, in instant cereals Almost the entire supply of fiber is preserved. And this is already good for our digestive system. Fiber provides softness, stimulates motility and serves as food for intestinal microflora.

As you can see, the answer to the question of whether instant porridge is healthy does not have a clear, short answer. With infrequent use and careful selection in the store, it is quite possible to reduce harm and increase benefits. But still, do not forget about natural cereals. After all, millet, pearl barley, rice or buckwheat can become the crown of your culinary creativity.

Well, if the way healthy eating is very important for you and you care about what foods are included in your diet, I can recommend you a good one eco food store. The food that is presented in it definitely falls into the category of tasty and healthy. In addition, there are also environmentally friendly products for body care and home cleaning.

Let there be only healthy products on your table! Nadezhda Goryunova.

"Oatmeal, sir!" In England, oats are one of the most popular ingredients for many dishes. Judging by the latest research, many residents of our country also share the British people’s love for oatmeal and consider it the best option for breakfast. Its benefits and harms have been proven by medical research. What consequences can occur when frequent use porridge?

Benefits of oatmeal

Nutritionists have long determined beneficial features oatmeal:

low level glycemic index. Therefore, doctors recommend oatmeal for diabetes, as it maintains blood sugar levels;
calcium content, many children do not like to eat oatmeal in the morning, although it helps strengthen teeth and hair;
a decoction of flakes of water and honey prevents heart disease;
inositol contained in oatmeal or flour normalizes cholesterol levels, this prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques;
the benefits of oatmeal are visible during stress; a healthy breakfast improves overall well-being;
saturating the body with fiber, which prevents the occurrence of gastritis and ulcers. In case of poisoning, you can make a decoction in water from oatmeal, then drink it in small sips;
oatmeal has the ability to heal; they used to believe that preparing a decoction of oatmeal would cure stomach cancer;
cereal contains antioxidants that enhance immunity;
The body quickly absorbs oatmeal. This means that the benefit oatmeal lies in its dietary content.

Beneficial properties of oatmeal used in medicine

Losing weight. Although oatmeal is high in calories, it controls the absorption of fats in the body. There are many diets for weight loss, the basis of which is oatmeal or oat milk. The benefits and harms in this case have not been fully studied, since this is considered forced weight loss. The most common way to lose weight is 2 fasting (oatmeal) days a week. You can eat porridge and drink plenty of fluids all day. Cereal decoctions also help; they can be consumed on an empty stomach every morning.

Treatment of hypertension. You can prevent high blood pressure with oatmeal broth. Pour a glass of oatmeal grains into a plate, pour in 1 liter of unboiled but purified water, then boil over a fire until half of the water has evaporated. Drink half a glass of decoction in the morning on an empty stomach.

Treatment of edema. An instant decoction of cereal or oat flour will help with this. A glass of flakes or cereal is filled with 5 glasses of cool water and put on fire for 15 minutes. After this, add a spoonful of flour and honey and boil for another 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink this decoction in small portions throughout the day.

Harm of oatmeal

Use daily large quantities No porridge allowed. Phytic acid, contained in cereals, does not completely absorb calcium in the body, washing away some of it from bone tissue. High levels of phytic acid are dangerous for humans.
Oatmeal packets that are popular today do not contain essential vitamins and nutrients. It contains starch, entering the body, it is broken down into sugar, which increases the level of glucose in the blood, the pancreas cannot withstand such loads, after which an insulin reaction occurs.
There is a group of people who are contraindicated from eating cereal porridges. This is due to the effects of gluten, which is only found in cereal crops: butterfly oats. Doctors gave the name to this disease - celiac disease, the symptoms are not immediately visible, at first they are mild, but already at a deep stage they make themselves felt, intestinal absorption at that moment is completely destroyed and stops its activity, children are especially susceptible to this disease.

Today there is a wide variety of oatmeal on store shelves. Benefits and harms of this product depends on quality. When choosing cereals or flakes, you should pay attention to the name.

Extra oat flakes are often divided into several varieties. One variety contains thin oatmeal for quick cooking, so they cannot be kept in boiling water for longer than 10 minutes. There are varieties that contain a large amount of carbohydrates; the benefits of oatmeal are lost.

“Hercules” is separated from other varieties of instant oatmeal. The flakes are quite dense, so it will take more time to cook.

Important! When choosing instant porridge, make sure that the oatmeal or oatmeal is in an airtight container, as the product absorbs moisture. Keep an eye on expiration dates, as they begin from the moment of production, not packaging. Take the time (if the packaging is transparent) to inspect the contents in the light. Flakes High Quality have a white or cream tint. Already at home, smell the product; there should be no third-party odors.

What are the benefits of eating oatmeal for breakfast?

In the morning you don’t really feel like eating, because your body hasn’t fully woken up. But you still need a sufficient supply of energy before lunch, light porridge perfect for this. At the same time, the abundance of proteins contained in cereals favorably emphasizes the beneficial properties of oatmeal compared to sandwiches. If you eat denser and heavier foods with oatmeal, the same fried eggs, then the cereal promotes rapid absorption.

The benefits of oatmeal are observed during diets, when metabolism in the body is organized. Gastroenterologists have found out why oatmeal is beneficial: the presence of vitamins K and B improves blood clotting and normalizes kidney function. The body is strengthened, which is a guarantee wellness all day.

Instant oatmeal doesn't get boring. It can be cooked with water or milk, combined with fruits and honey, and the cereal itself is inexpensive. Children will love this breakfast for its originality and taste.

Are instant oatmeal harmful?

Due to lack of time, people prefer instant porridge. Few people know that the benefits and harms of oatmeal in bags are different from the properties of the natural product. Porridge in bags has a low level of regulation in the body's metabolism, and you can forget about energy and good mood. This porridge is quite convenient, you just need to pour the contents of the package into a plate and add water, three minutes - the porridge is ready. For the mass production of this product, the grains are crushed and pre-steamed, which promotes instant absorption by the body; of course, this is harmful. Sugar can be called the end product of the breakdown of such a “healthy breakfast”. High sugar levels make the pancreas work harder, which increases the risk of diabetes. Then the sugar turns into fat, and the benefits of oatmeal disappear.

If you are used to eating oatmeal in the morning, it is better to give preference to natural oatmeal. Preparation does not take much time, but in the end you will get high-quality, healthy and delicious product. At making the right choice cereals or oatmeal, as well as if you follow the cooking instructions hearty breakfast, awaits you good mood and a healthy body.

Some symptoms of appearance:

increased sweating;
weakened immunity, frequent colds;
weakness, fatigue;
nervous state, depression;
headaches and migraines;
alternating diarrhea and constipation;
I want sweet and sour;
bad breath;
frequent feeling of hunger;
problems with losing weight;
decreased appetite;
night grinding of teeth, drooling;
pain in the abdomen, joints, muscles;
cough does not go away;
acne on the skin.

If you have any of the symptoms or are in doubt about the causes of your ailments, you need to cleanse your body as quickly as possible. How to do it .

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Everyone knows that oatmeal is extremely useful product. Of course, oatmeal is healthiest if you prepare it at home from fresh ingredients. But in the morning there is often not enough time to prepare such a healthy breakfast, and therefore you will probably be interested to know how things are going with instant oatmeal. How is this porridge good for health and what harm does it cause?

Oats themselves have many beneficial properties. This is a rich source of fiber - 100 g of ready-made oatmeal contains about 5 g, making it beneficial for digestion. Oats also contain more fat than other types of grains, but these are mostly heart-healthy unsaturated fats, which are rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. At regular use « quick oatmeal» has a positive effect on high cholesterol in the blood, diabetes and hypertension, and also acts as a preventive measure. Due to the fact that oatmeal contains a lot of fiber, speeds up metabolism and saturates for a long time, it is useful for losing weight and preventing weight gain.

Useful material

Cellulose;
Unsaturated fatty acids;
Vitamins B1, B6, E;
Iron;
Calcium.

Does instant oatmeal have the same health benefits? The main difference between traditional rolled oats and instant oats is the amount of processing. Quick cooking oats are more processed to reduce cooking time. This does not have a significant impact on the health benefits, so they are almost as healthy as regular cereal, but that is unless we are talking about the glycemic index.

Due to the active processing of grains, instant oatmeal has a higher glycemic index. This means that it holds blood sugar levels for a shorter time and creates a stronger, sharper rise in glucose levels. This means that some of the benefits of oatmeal, such as positive influence on glucose and a long-term feeling of satiety are lost.

Harm of instant porridge

For those who watch their weight;
for diabetes;
for chronic constipation.

How much to eat instant oatmeal

You shouldn't get carried away with instant oatmeal. If you eat it every day, your body may become deficient in a number of useful substances.

How to choose and prepare instant oatmeal

Regarding health, cereals It's also important to choose ones without added sugar or flavors because these add extra calories, fats and increases the glycemic index. To make oatmeal healthier, buy natural flakes, and create the taste yourself with the help of fruits, small quantity honey or spices such as cinnamon nutmeg and vanilla.

Healthy instant porridge recipe

If you are short on time and instant oatmeal is the only option, you can still lower the glycemic index of the dish. Add a low GI carbohydrate source, or a source of fat or protein. Low-fat milk, yogurt or nuts - perfect option. This will slow down the absorption of carbohydrates and, consequently, blood sugar levels will be more stable.

In recent years, more and more products have appeared on store shelves. instant porridge, while porridge and other similar instant dishes position themselves as healthy. So, are they any use? How to choose similar products? How did instant porridge become a useful product? Porridge can be healthy because it fills the body with carbohydrates needed for energy. Still, there is a basis for mistrust of instant food.

Justified mistrust

For many ordinary people instant porridge evokes associations with something artificial. Is it so? These associations are partly true. No chemicals are used in the production of instant porridges. It's all about the processing of the product - in physics. The grains are converted into flakes by flattening and then steamed. This method allows you to cook porridge in a couple of minutes, without boiling it, but by steaming it. This “physics” evaporates some of the nutrients from the porridge. But the problem is different.

Sugar

(and another fast food) usually contain a lot of sugar. In addition to sugar, which is harmful to the figure, manufacturers put in instant porridges all kinds of additives(flavors, taste enhancers). These ingredients are very popular in the production of instant food. But among modern “fast” products there are also health benefits.

Healthy

Some instant porridge contain extracts of medicinal plants. For example, burdock root (licorice, chicory), which is reduced to a powder state. Medicinal herbs(dandelion, nettle, horsetail, milk thistle) are aimed at treating specific problems. Manufacturers assure that such porridges are useful especially for those who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases (heartburn, ulcers, stomatitis). Such dishes heal the mucous membrane, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and normalize the production of gastric juice.

Porridge base

What is everything made of? instant porridge- from oatmeal? - this is the first thing that comes to mind when you mention “instant porridge”. These are the types of breakfasts that were originally common on the market. But the main one may be another cereal. Health-improving porridges include porridges made from whole wheat, rye, buckwheat, and rice bases. Separately, it is worth mentioning the linen base. Its taste will seem strange and unusual to many. But it has a lot of useful properties:

1. flaxseed porridge prevents the formation of gastritis, enveloping the gastric mucosa.

3. lignals - special plant matter, which are also contained in porridge, prevent the growth of cancer cells.

How often to eat

How often should you eat fast food? healthy cereals? If the goal is disease prevention, then healthy porridges should be eaten regularly. The best option- in the morning on an empty stomach or have a snack at work. As a treatment, porridge can only be eaten after consulting a doctor. Unlike regular products enriched meals have more strong influence on the body.

How to recognize

How to recognize a useful product, since many companies position their “fast” products on the sly? What points should you pay attention to when choosing a healthy instant porridge? The absence of artificial components is the main selection criterion. It is difficult to count on a healing effect if the porridge contains flavorings, albeit identical to natural ones. It is desirable that during production it is used whole grain. But remember: instant porridges cannot compare in taste and benefits to those prepared at home.

The best breakfast is oatmeal, everyone knows about it. And many follow the advice to eat a portion of porridge in the morning. But lack of time forces some to buy porridge in bags, which takes literally a couple of minutes to prepare. Is instant oatmeal healthy?

How is instant oatmeal different from regular oatmeal?

We all know that oatmeal is a very healthy product. Therefore, many do not pay attention to the composition of this product. But oatmeal, especially instant oatmeal, may contain components that are not only healthy, but also downright harmful.

If you pour instant oatmeal onto a plate, you can see with the naked eye that it contains a lot of sugar– its white crystals are directly visible there. Eating such porridge causes your blood glucose level to quickly jump and then fall just as quickly. The pancreas and the body as a whole suffer from this.

An abundance of sugar is a precursor to the aging of our blood vessels, organs and even skin.

Porridge manufacturers promise us a large number of healthy fillers - berries and dried fruits. However, as a rule, there are negligible quantities of them - after all, these products are quite expensive. But since there are not enough berries, producers come to the aid of flavoring and aromatic additives, the benefits of which are questionable.

What is often added to oatmeal with milk is not natural dry milk or cream, but vegetable cream based palm oil. I think you've heard a lot about the dangers of palm oil.

Perhaps your breakfast, which you want to make healthy, should not be turned into a portion of food chemicals.

Does quick oatmeal help you lose weight?

More like oatmeal or other porridge accelerated preparation will slow down weight loss.

This is because it contains a lot of sugar. Firstly, this is an unreasonably increased caloric content, and due to fast carbohydrates, which it is advisable to limit when losing weight.

In addition, a large amount of sugar increases appetite and reduces the time before the feeling of hunger reappears. Even if you have eaten well, after eating a meal rich in sugars, you will soon feel hungry again.

But these must be regular porridge no added sugar.

How to replace “fast porridge”

Of course, products quick preparation comfortable. However, just pour boiling water over regular oatmeal (rolled oats) without any additives, and in 1-2 minutes you will also get ready-made oatmeal.

If desired, its taste can be “decorated” with pieces of fruit, dried fruit, fresh or defrosted berries.
Porridge with grated or whipped banana is very tasty. Unique oatmeal with half a spoon of cinnamon.
Sophistication healthy breakfast Add any nuts and even seeds. Some can be chopped, others left whole.
Porridge mixed with lightly fried onions produces an interesting taste.

There are just a lot of options! Among them there will definitely be one that will satisfy your discerning taste :)

Is it worth spending extra money and buying “instant porridge”, and even with fillers, dyes and harmful milk substitutes, if you can buy regular oatmeal and get really healthy and natural product for your breakfast?

We wish you health and longevity! If you found this post helpful or simply liked it, please share it or your impressions of it with your friends. We will be grateful to you, and our friends will learn the whole truth about instant porridge and stop wasting money and spoiling their health.

Mini Tips for Losing Weight

Reduce your portions by a third - that's what will help you lose weight! Short and to the point :)

Add more or stop? When this question arises, it’s definitely time to stop eating. This is the body giving you a signal that you will be full soon, otherwise you would not doubt it.

If you tend to overeat in the evenings, then take a warm shower before dinner. 5-7 minutes, and you already have a completely different mood and attitude towards food. Try it - it works.

No matter how delicious the food is, you will eat it many more times. This is not the last meal of your life! Remind yourself of this when you feel like you can’t stop and are frantically swallowing piece after piece.

Our environment influences us - that's a fact! Avoid conversations like “I lost weight and couldn’t”, “but we’ll still remain fat”, “ good man there must be a lot." Well, even if there are “a lot” of them, what do you have to do with it?

Remember a simple word: graceful. This is exactly what your portion of unhealthy foods should be. And then you too will become graceful - it’s only a matter of time.