Tag: Eating oats

Recent studies have shown that the beta-glucan fiber in oats can reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar, offering significant health benefits. Learning how to eat oat seeds starts with a crucial distinction: most commercially available oats are derived from the edible oat groat, not the unhulled seed used for planting.

While unprocessed oat groats are inedible raw, the large flake oats you buy from the store are actually heat-treated during processing, making them safe for raw consumption, as long as they are prepared correctly. This critical step ensures they are edible and safe for your system.

Raw, unhulled oats are primarily used as livestock feed due to their tough, indigestible outer husk, and they are not suitable for human consumption. This critical difference is often mistaken, leading to confusion over whether you can eat unhulled oats.

According to a study published in the *Journal of the American College of Nutrition*, eating oats can reduce energy intake compared to other breakfast cereals. But is it better to eat rolled oats raw or cooked to maximize their health benefits?