Oats contain a small amount of prolamin-type proteins, which can cause problems for people with certain food intolerance. Gluten is not one of these proteins. In fact, contamination is the only real reason why oats would contain gluten, especially when they are planted, harvested and processed along with other gluten-containing grains like wheat or barley. But if food intolerances are set aside, why would I avoid oats in my diet?

Oats are full of dietary fiber that is great for the digestive and cardiovascular systems, they are packed with many beneficial minerals like manganese, molybdenum, magnesium and phosphorous, and they have plenty of healthy vitamins like biotin and phytonutrients like lignans. Oats also contain beta-glucans as well as the antioxidant avenasterol that are great for the immune system and the pyroxine (vitamin B6) in oats helps serotonin production in the brain, making you feel satisfied. So if they are known to be great for managing cholesterol levels, maintaining a healthy circulatory system, boost the immune system and provide the body with many healthy nutrients, why would anyone stop eating oats.

Although oats are touted for their low glycemic index, especially in comparison to other grains like white rice or millet, heir content of biotin and natural sugars still causes the body to pump out insulin which, in my case, gets in the way of both weight loss and metabolic function. They also contain purines that are broken down into uric acid, an excess of which can lead to kidney stones, inflammatory problems and gout. And because of their starch content, all grains are inflammatory foods, with the more refined version being more inflammatory versions. So depending on the severity of joint pain and arthritis, even moderately inflammatory grains like oats may not be ideal.

But just like with almost any food item, there are pros and cons to consider and even the amount that might be right for your body. Whether or not you should be eating or avoiding oats can be highly dependent on your body’s needs and your personal lifestyle. To find out if oats are good for you or best left behind, check out ph360 and ShaeTM.