Cooling Inflammation for Healthier Arteries

[Richard D]

Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists have reported new reasons for choosing "heart-healthy" oats at the grocery store.


Nutritionist Mohsen Meydani, director of the Vascular Biology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, Mass., led the research on the oat compounds, called avenanthramides. Meydani previously has shown that phenolic antioxidants in oats obstruct the ability of blood cells to stick to artery walls.

Chronic inflammation inside the arterial wall is part of the process that eventually leads to a disorder known as atherosclerosis. Meydani and colleagues have reported findings that suggest the avenanthramides of oats decrease the expression of inflammatory molecules. The study showed that forms of avenanthramides possess potential anti-inflammatory properties through inhibiting factors that are linked with activating proinflammatory cytokines.

Cytokines are small proteins released by cells while seeking to protect and repair tissue. Some trigger inflammation, for example, while responding to infection. Inhibiting inflammation through diet, drugs, or key nutrients is considered to be of great benefit in preventing atherosclerosis. Details of this study can be found in the scientific journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216142326.htm

[brewens]

1. good thing I love "real" oatmeal. Not the instant packs or quick oats.

The old fashioned oats are really almost as quick to cook. The only real secret is do not stir them much. That makes them all gluey.
The good stuff with fruit is a great breakfast.

[Fridays Child]

2. Did the article say that the oatmeal in the instant packets isn't as effective?

I didn't see that. I love the instant maple and brown sugar-flavored oatmeal.

[gkhouston]

3. I confess: I also hate them gluey, so I pour boiling water over the old-fashioned

oats (with some dried fruit sprinkled on top), put a saucer over the bowl, and let it sit for a few minutes. It's lazy "cooked" oatmeal.

And when I'm really bad, I skip the dried fruit and drop some Ghiradelli's dark chocolate chips on the oatmeal after it's cooked. I don't do that at breakfast time, but I occasionally have a small bowl of oatmeal for a snack.

[brewens]

4. I just boil the water, turn it off and dump in the oatmeal and stir it just a little.

Then toss a couple handfulls of frozen blueberrys on top, cover it and go take a shower. When I get back to it it just needs a little brown sugar and it's perfect. Maybe a splash of half & half.
Five pound sacks of blueberrys at costco and they are really big!

[Peregrine Took]

5. Thanks so much for posting! I know several people this will help. n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. COOK IT IN MILK, PEOPLE!!!

It tastes a whole lot better cooked in milk, or half water and half milk. I cook it in milk, then put in butter, sea salt, brown sugar and vanilla. Then I pour a bit more milk on it to cool it. Tastes much better!!