It can be difficult to find a healthy breakfast that is quick to prepare and will keep you full until lunch. Starting your day with oatmeal, cinnamon and honey can help jumpstart your metabolism. Oatmeal and the added ingredients all have specific health benefits that can give you energy and reduce your risk of certain diseases.
Fiber
Oatmeal is high in fiber, a type of carbohydrate that passes through your body undigested. Fiber helps to prevent or relieve constipation, regulate bowel movements and help you feel full for longer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women should consume 25 grams of fiber per day as part of a healthy diet. Regular and quick oats have more fiber than instant oatmeal. A 1-cup cooked serving of regular oats contains 4 grams of fiber.
Carbohydrates
Honey and oatmeal are good sources of carbohydrates. Although you may think of high-carbohydrate foods as something you should avoid, carbohydrates provide you with necessary energy. Eating foods high in carbohydrates early in the day can supply you with an energy boost. Carbohydrates are especially important for athletes for this reason. A 1-cup serving size of oatmeal contains 28 grams of carbohydrates. Adding 1 tablespoon of honey to your oatmeal increases the carbohydrates by 17 grams.
Lower Blood Sugar
Cinnamon and oatmeal can help lower your blood sugar. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes and may help control blood sugar even in people without diabetes. A 2007 study published in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” found that eating 6 grams of cinnamon per day reduced postprandial blood glucose and caused subjects to feel full for longer. Fiber also helps to slow your body’s absorption of sugar, improving blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.
Reduce Cholesterol
Honey and cinnamon are good sources of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fight free radicals, which can cause damage to cells. Honey contains antioxidants, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. Because of these antioxidants, honey may help to reduce blood cholesterol levels. In test-tube studies, honey slowed the oxidation of bad cholesterol. The darker honey contains more antioxidants. Cinnamon, which is high in a certain type of antioxidants known as polyphenols, can also affect cholesterol levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. The Mayo Clinic reports that the fiber in oatmeal may also reduce the bad type of cholesterol.
