10 "Superfoods" to Eat Daily for Optimal Health - Part 2

Oats are high in soluble fiber and linked to lowering blood pressure and overall cholesterol levels. Oats are a good carbohydrate, and they're rich in beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a powerful soluble fiber that helps to slow the digestion of sugar and keep blood sugar levels under control.

Oats are also a great source of quality plant protein helping with muscle growth and repair. Each ​half-cup serving provides a whopping 10 grams, and many studies have shown eating oatmeal reduces the risk of heart disease. 

Power up your day and your body with a bowl of oats—and breakfast aside, it's an excellent pre- or post-workout meal.    

Oats for Fiber Intake

Oats are high in soluble fiber and linked to lowering blood pressure and overall cholesterol levels. Oats are a good carbohydrate,  and they're rich in beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a powerful soluble fiber that helps to slow the digestion of sugar and keep blood sugar levels under control.

Oats are also a great source of quality plant protein helping with muscle growth and repair. Each half cup serving provides a whopping 10 grams, and many studies have shown eating oatmeal reduces the risk of heart disease. 

Power up your day and your body with a bowl of oats—and breakfast aside, it's an excellent pre- or post-workout meal.   

Instant Oatmeal

1/3 cup quick oats
2 tsp. light brown sugar

Place in zip type sandwich bags.  When ready to use pour into a cup or bowl.  Add 2/3 cup water.  Microwave 40 seconds.  Stir and microwave another 15 seconds.  If you like the taste of butter, give it a few squirts.  You can also add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1 - 2 Tbsp. dried apples diced small or 1 - 2 Tbsp. raisins.  These can be added to each packet and stored.  Below is the nutritional values without the raisins and apples.

This idea originally came from a post I found on Pinterest from A Season for all Things  This is not only a great way to create your own oatmeal flavors but it's also economical.  1 18 oz. box of instant oats, store brand, cost less than $2.00 and made 15 packets.  Add the brown sugar costing, maybe, $.50 to give you 15 oatmeal packets for $2.50.  I added cinnamon to 10 packs and raisins to 5 and dried apples to 5.  This was an added cost of $1.00 since I went to the health food store that sold these in bulk.  Grand total for my 15 bowls of oatmeal = $3.50 or about $.25 each. 

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 1
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 107.3

• Total Fat: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 2.8 mg
• Total Carbs: 37.2 g
• Dietary Fiber: 5.0 g
• Protein: 3.0 g

New Oatmeal Flavors

I love flavored coffee but don't like to make it in my regular coffee pot.  It seemed to carry some of it's flavor over into my next pot of regular coffee.  I don't use the flavored creamers because I don't drink my coffee with sugar and they all seem to be sweetened with either sugar or a substitute.  So, for Christmas I became the proud owner of a Krueg single cup coffee maker.  Now I treat myself to a couple cups of flavored coffee every day. 

I also love oatmeal and eat it daily but don't have time to cook my favorite the "Old Fashion" kind so I depend on the instant that can be made in the microwave.  As with my coffee, I love the flavored oatmeal but they too have a good bit of sugar or sugar substitute. 

Today I made a wonderful discovery!  I had about 1/2 cup of my cup of Caramel flavored coffee left and was getting ready to make my cup of oatmeal when it hit me.  Why not flavor my oatmeal with flavored coffee.  I was Thinking With My Taste Buds.  I used flavored coffee instead of water and it is DELICIOUS!  Oatmeal comes in flavors like banana bread, spice and apple cinnamon.  I've just added flavors to my oatmeal such as Hazelnut, Caramel and Egg Nog.  Any flavor you like in your coffee will be good in your oatmeal.