Oatmeal For Breakfast Curbs Appetite At Lunch

You've probably heard it before that oatmeal is a great meal for you. It can reduce the risk of heart disease; help lower cholesterol; help you lose weight; reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes; reduce high blood pressure levels and contains quite the array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Yet did you know that eating instant oatmeal could help curb food intake at lunch better than cereal, which previous studies have suggested could help you lose weight and increase fullness.

In this recent study, researchers analyzed data from close to 50 people, finding that a 205-calorie instant oatmeal serving (with an additional 113 calories of skim milk) helped to enhance fullness, reduce the desire to eat and even led to a lower caloric intake at lunch when compared to a 250-calorie serving of cold, oat-based cereal, served with the additional 113 calories of skim milk, according to a news release. 

Researchers suspect that the higher molecular viscosity of the beta-glucan in the instant oatmeal contributed to its satiating effect over the oat-based, cold cereal.

Then the participants were presented with a lunch meal of their choice that ranged from 2,600 to 2,800 calories, ranging from turkey, roast beef, ham or vegetables, to patty sandwiches and a calorie-free or calorie-containing beverage, alongside potato crisps and cookies. Then the participants were told to "eat to satisfaction."

Findings revealed that total calorie intake was significantly lower following consumption of instant oatmeal compared to the cold cereal, as were fat and protein intake. However, grams of carbohydrate and total weight of the foods were not significantly different.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

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