Steel-cut Oats

Nothing beats morning hunger like carbs, but the feeling of satiation doesn't last long. After only half an hour after eating, you crave for more. I recently came across an article about steel-cut oats, they're also know as coarse-cut oats, pin-head oats, Scotch oats, or Irish oats. Although they take a longer time to prepare, they have a lower glycemic index than that of regular oats.

Adding steel-cut oats to baked goods can extend the time it takes for your system to digest home-baked carbs. This is because steel-cut oats contain 2 grams soluble and 4 grams insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is the most common kind and you've probably heard that it lowers LDL [bad cholesterol]. Soluble fiber on the other hand, plays a major role in digestion. It dissolves in water and forms a kind of gelatin in the gut. This dramatically slows digestion and allows the sugars in the treat to reach the bloodstreeam little by little. This does not only result to a feeling of fullness, but it also gives you a steady supply of energy that lasts four to five hours.

The next time you're baking your own bread, add steel-cut oats or when you're buying, ask the baker if they have some goodies with steel-cut oats.

Photo credits: Wikipedia