Eat More Oats to Protect Heart and Brain Vessels
Eat More Oats to Protect Heart and Brain Vessels
It is widely known that cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. One major contributing factor is high blood lipids, specifically high cholesterol and triglycerides. We now introduce a healthy food for middle-aged and elderly individuals—oats—which effectively lowers cholesterol in the body. Regular consumption can help prevent heart and brain vascular diseases, the primary threat to middle-aged and elderly people.
Oats are known in China as Youmai, commonly called Youmai or Yu Mai, a staple grain in Ningxia Guyuan region. Youmai has exceptionally high nutritional value. According to data, Youmai contains 15.6% protein—over double that of rice and three to four percentage points higher than flour. Fat content is 8.5%, several times higher than rice and flour. Carbohydrates account for 64.8%, about 10% lower than rice and flour. Fiber content is 2.1%, ash content 2%. It is a low-sugar, high-protein, high-fat, high-energy food. Its nutrient content is high and quality excellent. Among cereal grains, its essential amino acids are best balanced. Lysine and methionine levels are ideal, whereas rice and flour lack these amino acids severely. Moreover, it contains abundant essential fatty acids—linoleic acid accounts for over one-third of total fatty acids. Vitamins and minerals are also plentiful. Per 100 grams: vitamin B1 590 mcg, vitamin B2 150 mcg, vitamin B6 160 mcg, niacin 1000 mcg, minerals 1000 mcg, folate 25 mcg, calcium 55 mg, potassium 335 mg, iron 5 mg, manganese 5 mg, zinc 4 mg. Notably, vitamin B1 ranks highest among cereal grains.
Youmai has excellent auxiliary therapeutic effects: due to high linoleic acid content, it lowers blood cholesterol. Contains eight plant sterols, preventing intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Smaller starch molecules than rice and flour, easily digested and absorbed. Contains polysaccharides derived from fructose, directly usable by the body. Helps lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in hypercholesterolemia. High-quality dietary fiber alleviates colon cancer, diabetes, constipation, varicose veins, and phlebitis. Facts confirm Youmai’s high nutrient quality, rich vitamins and minerals, and extensive auxiliary therapeutic effects. Thus, the World Health Organization officially lists it as a recommended health food.
If you wish to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases or already suffer from them, consider eating oatmeal daily. Beijing Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Medical Research Center and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences jointly confirmed that consuming just 50 grams of oatmeal daily can reduce blood cholesterol by an average of 39 mg per 100 ml and triglycerides by 76 mg. No wonder former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has long maintained a habit of eating oat bread for breakfast, even requesting daily air shipment of oat bread during her brief visit to China!