Did you know that there's fat in Oatmeal? Does this make it bad for you?

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NUTRITIONAL CONTENT

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A cup of rolled oats (approximately 30 gm) has 128 calories, and contains:
21.5 gm of Carbohydrates
2.9 gm of Fat
4 gm of Protein

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(taken from My Fitness Pal - a great, free app that helps you track your caloric intake)

 

Isn't that surprising? Most of us think of Oats as just being a healthy source of carbohydrates, but it actually contains a bit of fat, along with a bit of protein.

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WHAT KIND OF FAT?

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According to 'fatsecret.com' (a free website that tries to catalogue the fat content in every day foods), most of this comes from mono-unsaturated fats and poly-unsaturated fats. These are healthy fats, and are good for your general well-being,
and for keeping your heart healthy.

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There's also a small amount of saturated fats, which aren't so good for you, especially if taken in high amounts. Thankfully, it makes up less than 20% of the fat in Oats.

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There aren't any trans fats in Oats. These fats are terribly bad for you, and are mostly found in processed foods like fries and pizza.

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BUT I DON'T WANT FAT

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You need some healthy fats in your diet to keep your mind and body running well. A diet extremely low in fat will result in numerous health problems over time, including unhealthy skin, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, and vision problems.

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Oatmeal is GOOD for you. It has a ton of fibre, is a low-glycemic source of carbohydrates (read our article on the Glycemic Index here), and contains healthy fats.

 

Yes, there is a small amount of saturated fat, but as a whole, Oats are still incredibly healthy for you. 

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Don't let the small amount of saturated fat put you off. I eat oats for 4 meals a day, and feel absolutely terrific.

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WRAP IT UP!

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Oats are a really healthy food, providing you with healthy Carbohydrates and healthy Fats to keep your mind and body running well. You should definitely try and have some in your daily diet.