Rolled oats, unlike rolled oats, are not cooked. You just put rolled oats (which are pre-cooked) in a jar with your liquid of choice overnight. Usually, people soak oatmeal in water or milk (learn which plant milk is best for weight loss!). In the morning, you can enjoy a good bowl of oats overnight, excellent for optimal gut health.
This delicious morning meal is high in resistant starch, which is a type of prebiotic fiber that the body does not digest. For this reason, it passes directly through your digestive system until it reaches your gut where gut bacteria ferment the fiber. This helps create a healthier gut microbiome. Even though overnight oats are beneficial on their own, are there certain ingredients you can add to help your gut function optimally?
To learn more about the best way to make your oatmeal overnight to boost your gut health, we spoke with Lisa Richards, Registered Nutritionist and Creator of The Candida Diet, Jenny Fontana, Nutritional Therapist, and Trista Best. , Registered Dietitian for Balance One. Supplements. They believe to add bananas, gingerAnd chia seeds Adding to your overnight oats can greatly improve gut health because these ingredients are full of fiber, healthy fats, and good bacteria your gut needs to function. Find out more below!
Bananas
This popular fruit is not only delicious; it’s also packed with health benefits that are essential for optimal gut health. “We all associate bananas with potassium, which is very important, but bananas are amazing for our gut health due to their fantastic prebiotic benefits,” Fontana says. She notes that many people don’t understand the importance of good bacteria. “You need to feed your probiotic bacteria for them to thrive and for you to have a happy gut,” she explains.
Fontana points out that bananas are “loaded with prebiotic fiber on which good bacteria thrive” and notes that they “are also great for helping to reduce bloating.” They also contain large amounts of vitamin B6, which is essential for our immune system. This makes bananas a fantastic choice for anyone looking to boost their immune system and gut health. You can also add bananas to your smoothie for an energizing pick-me-up!
Ginger
Another great way to boost your oats overnight is to add ginger. This spice offers a range of health benefits and is an especially good ingredient for anyone looking to boost their immunity and gut health. Similar to bananas, the benefits of ginger for gut health come from the fact that it feeds the good bacteria in your gut. “Ginger helps balance the gut and thus reduces bloating, nausea, and gas,” says Best. All in all, ginger is a wonderful supercharged oatmeal ingredient that’s both tasty and metabolism-boosting. Yum!
Chia seeds
Chia seeds are “a complete, nutrient-dense protein and whole grain that can be easily incorporated into most diets,” according to Richards. These seeds contain gut-healthy fiber and are what she says are “an especially useful grain for those following a plant-based diet, as they provide all of the essential amino acids in one food.” Richards adds that they contain “healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, a highly anti-inflammatory fat, which also makes them great for heart health.”
Known to be a “superfood,” Richards points out that these fat-blasting seeds are “versatile and pack a lot of nutrients in a small package.” Adding them to your oatmeal overnight is a great place to start! The protein content of chia seeds and oats, Richards concludes, will help you stay full longer, which may prevent you from “overeating throughout the day.”