Oatmeal is warm, filling and good for the heart. But there is more to oatmeal than that. Does oatmeal make you poop? Let’s find out.
Rise and shine, love! It’s time for breakfast.
You see your warm, comforting bowl of oatmeal topped with fruits and finished it in no time. After a few hours, nature called for you to poop. But wait! You have constipation lately, how is this possible? Does this seem familiar?
Oatmeal is from hulled oat grains, also called groats. There are three types of preparations that can be done to groats which are milled, steel-cut or rolled. There are also two categories that we may all be familiar with – quick or instant. This pertains to the preparation time. Rolled oats can also be thick or thin.
Were you surprised that oatmeal can be that complicated?
Does oatmeal make you poop?
Oatmeals are affordable and known for their health benefits, but what are they? And does oatmeal make you poop? Simply put, yes, and here are the two reasons why.
Presenting… Fiber number 1
Oatmeal has insoluble fiber. It is a dietary fiber that does not dissolve in water or gastrointestinal fluids. This fiber moves through the gut undigested, trapping and gathering water as it “rolls” down. Insoluble fiber helps form the body of the stool while speeding up the processing of the poop. It is particularly helpful for those with constipation or slow bowel movement.
Okay, next!
And… Fiber number 2
Oatmeals have soluble fiber too. One-half cup of oatmeal gives you 2 grams of soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber might be more known for its cardiovascular benefits, such as lowering blood cholesterol levels and stabilizing glucose levels in the blood. It is also helpful for the digestive tract. So, soluble fibers dissolve in water and other gastric fluids. It helps slow down the digestion speed to help the stool increase its consistency.
The action of the two fibers helps push, pull and form the stool in the gut. This effect is more obvious for people with constipation since it may have an immediate effect on the body. There is also the action of the local gut bacteria eating the fibers, aka, as prebiotic.
Here’s the thing why oats are good for the gut. There is a whopping 10.6 g of dietary fiber in 100 grams of oats!
Bonus perks
Besides having both soluble and insoluble fibers, there are also other micronutrients present in oats. Some of these are:
- vitamin E
- folates
- zinc
- iron
- selenium
- copper
- manganese
- carotenoids
- betaine
- choline
- sulfur-containing amino acids
- phytic acid
- lignins
- lignane
- alkyl resorcinols
What is the daily need for fiber?
A daily intake of 25-30 grams a day of fiber from food and not supplements is recommended by the American Heart Association Eating plan. But, American adults eat only around half (15 grams) a day of fiber.
Now, this brings forth the fun part – how to add more dietary fiber to your diet.
Dietary fiber is abundant in nature. It is available in grains and cereals, legumes and beans, fruits and vegetables and even as supplements. Here are some foods that are good sources of fiber:
Here are some tips that you can do to sizzle up your fiber diet
- Choose whole-grain cereals and bread
- Add different varieties of cereals, grains, and nuts in your salads
- Eat fruits and vegetables daily. A recommended intake of 5 servings a day is okay.
- Choose to eat whole fruits and avoid juicing it if you can. The pulp left at the juicer is the fiber of the fruit
Does oatmeal make you poop? Yes, it is because of its fiber content, and there’s no harm there. Remember to drink lots of water whenever you take in fiber so that you won’t get constipated. Don’t go nuts over it though! Too much of anything is bad for everyone.
What’s your favorite oatmeal dish?
[thrive_toggles_group”][thrive_toggles title=”References” no=”1/1″]https://www.livestrong.com/article/494743-is-oatmeal-good-for-constipation/ https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/oats-body-2593.html https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169705/nutrients https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/379482/nutrients https://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/foods-that-make-you-poop-immediately/ https://www.health.com/condition/digestive-health/the-20-best-foods-to-help-with-constipation-so-you-can-finally-poop-again?slide=f20da495-d869-4e26-b46e-bf94d9b06abc#f20da495-d869-4e26-b46e-bf94d9b06abc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oatmeal https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319176.php#what-are-the-benefits-of-fiber https://www.health.com/nutrition/types-of-fiber https://gutadvisor.com/is-fiber-a-prebiotic/ [/thrive_toggles][/thrive_toggles_group]
