Easy and Healthy Banana Oat Porridge Recipe plus Health Benefits of Rolled Oats, Oatmeal and Oat Bran explained.

Porridge is such a great start to your day, and it is not surprising that there has been an increase in oatmeal in recent years because of the health benefits it offers. Because oats are high in fibre, they quite literally absorb blood cholesterol, which you can imagine has made oats hugely popular. Since oats contain beta-glucan , a low fat diet high in rolled oats or oat bran could reduce the risk of heart disease. Sports athletes have been huge fans of oats for years because of their high content of complex carbohydrates and water soluble fiber. It is said the oats encourage slow digestion and stabilises blood sugar levels as well as providing plenty of vitamin B.

The oats outer layer is called husk and must be removed before the grain can be eaten. After the husk has been removed the oat groat is still covered by its bran, and this is usually removed before the oat groats are rolled into flat flakes and steamed and lightly toasted. The final product is called rolled oats. 

Oat bran is the hard outer layer of the oat groat and consists of combined aleurone and pericarp. When bran is removed from grains, they lose a portion of their nutritional value. Oat brans contain lots of dietary fiber and essential fatty acids and starch, vitamins, protein and minerals.

Oatmeal is oat grains that have been dehusked by impact, heated and then cooled to stabilise the oat groats (the seed inside the husk). Heating the grains produces a nutty flavour to the oats. The oats are then milled to produce the oatmeal.

This porridge contains both rolled oats and oat bran, and although the brans are very fibrous they actually make the porridge smoother and creamier than a traditional porridge made from just rolled oats. The sliced banana and honey make this porridge burst with flavour and vitamins, making it a perfect start of yoru day.

What you’ll need

• A handful rolled oats
• A handful oat bran
• Two cups of milk
• A teaspoon of honey
• One sliced banana

Mix the oats, brans and milk in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes until the porridge thickens. Add more milk if necessary. Spoon it all into a bowl and add the sliced banana and honey.

Enjoy!

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