Benefits of Oatmeal and Avocado

Oatmeal and avocado are two versatile, unprocessed foods that are available year-round in grocery stores. Both are good kitchen staples because they’re reasonably priced, and you can either use them as ingredients in recipes or eat them on their own. They also offer many health benefits. Both foods fit into the Harvard School of Public Health’s Healthy Eating Plate, which was created by nutrition experts and encourages eating unprocessed whole grains and foods with healthy fats 1.

Good for Your Heart

The American Heart Association recommends replacing saturated fats with healthier unsaturated fats to reduce your risk of heart disease. The association includes avocados on its list of foods with better fats because they are a source of monounsaturated fat. It also advises eating more high-fiber whole grains, like oats. Oatmeal is especially high in soluble fiber, which has been shown to reduce levels of bad low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood and is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Low Glycemic Index

Good Carbs to Eat for Breakfast

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The glycemic index, or GI, measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose. Individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance can benefit from eating lower-GI foods because they have less of an impact on blood glucose and insulin levels. Because avocados are very low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats and dietary fiber, they have a very low GI and minimal effect on glucose levels. Even though it's high in carbohydrate, oatmeal is also considered a low-GI food because it’s unprocessed, high in fiber, and raises glucose and insulin levels more slowly than other carbs.

High in Nutrients

Avocados and oatmeal also provide many vitamins and minerals. Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including vitamins E and C, folate, iron, potassium, and the antioxidants lutein and beta carotene. Oatmeal is a source of many B vitamins and the minerals iron, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. Whole-grain oatmeal is also a source of many different phytochemicals, which according to the American Institute for Cancer Research have potential anti-cancer benefits 5.

Helpful for Weight Loss

How Can Oatmeal Help You to Lose Weight?

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Both oatmeal and avocado provide a feeling of fullness and help control appetite, which may be helpful for anyone looking to lose weight. A study published in "The Journal of the American College of Nutrition" in September 2103 found that eating oatmeal improved appetite control and increased satiety compared to eating the same number of calories from a ready-to-eat cold cereal 6. In another study on avocados, published in the "Nutrition Journal" in November 2013, researchers found that participants who added one-half of an avocado at lunch felt more full and satisfied for several hours afterward.