Can Oatmeal make you feel better when you have a cold?

Ever since I attended classes in herbal medicine and acupressure, there is this phrase that has echoed in my mind especially in the winter … and the phrase is “Oat groats are a natural treatment for nasal congestion.”

Part of the problem with this phrase being in my mind Is that I have perpetually ignored the word groats and just focused on the word “oat.”

Recently I decided to find out what the words oat groats actually mean, and I now think this may be an important part of the equation.

So the oatmeal starts out as a kernel of oat, which is de-husked and then some serious heat is applied (kilned – like when heat is applied to make pottery,) and at this point the oat kernel becomes an oat groat.

So, it’s the oat groat that is cut apart for steel cut oats, rolled for rolled oats (Old Fashioned oats,) and then it goes through more steps of processing to become instant oatmeal.

And because I’ve been involved in natural health for a long time, I understand that for each step of processing – each step away from the original groat — some of the oat’s natural energy is lost.

And less natural energy means less gas in your tank when you eat it.

Eureka! Learning about the process of making oatmeal was very enlightening to me. And for the first time I realized why I feel better – more energized — after eating steel cut or rolled oats … as opposed to the way I feel when I eat instant oats … which is sort of blah.

And I’m not saying people shouldn’t eat instant oatmeal, in fact I’ve got some in the cabinet.

But what I am saying is that if your health is run down or you have some really annoying nasal congestion, you should pass on by the more-processed instant oatmeal and go for the less processed types of oatmeal (steel cut and rolled oats.)

I have also heard that eating oatmeal can reduce inflammation in the body, which may be one of the reasons why oatmeal seems to relieve swollen, irritated nasal passages.

Also, oatmeal is high in magnesium, which helps to reduce inflammation in general.

Because I eat large bowls of oatmeal, I prefer using the super affordable Old Fashioned rolled oats often, and I definitely do this on days when I’m fighting off nasal congestion (when I have a cold.)

Some people tend to eat instant oatmeal because it comes in little colorful packages, but don’t be sucked in by the bling! You can easily switch to using Steel Cut or Old Fashioned rolled oats.

And since I use Old Fashioned rolled oats most often, I’m going to tell you how I prepare my own oatmeal at home.

First, I place the oats in a microwave safe container – I use silicone containers for cooking in the microwave – and pour the recommended amount of water into the oats.

Then I do the most important step, which is to pour some pink salt into the bowl.

I emphasize the pink salt because if you forget to add it, the oatmeal becomes kind of bland and bitter.

Then I cover the container and place it in the microwave for the time listed on the box.

Then I add the good stuff, which is cinnamon, raisins, and a sometimes fruit or a few Stevia chocolate chips.

Also, one of the most helpful things you can do to get rid of a cold is to add Cayenne pepper to your oatmeal. (Adding a bit of Cayenne to your tea and coffee also helps you kick a cold.)

And if you don’t like Cayenne, you can get used to it slowly by adding small amounts — even sprinkles — of Cayenne to your daily oatmeal and coffee routine.

If I want the oatmeal sweeter, I add only a smidge of granulated Erythritol or the brown sugar type of Erythritol. (The kind I use is called Sukrin Gold.)

(When I lost a lot of weight, I used Erythritol, so I like it!)

Be careful when you remove the container from the microwave because it will be very hot, which is another reason why I use silicone containers with rims for microwave cooking.

Even when the silicone container is hot, you can still grab it by the rim to remove it, which makes it easier (safer) to take out of the microwave than ceramic dishes.

What I’m saying is that even though there’s a lot of bling associated with pre-packaged instant oatmeal, you can access and enjoy more of nature’s energy when you choose the less processed oatmeal (Rolled and Steel cut) and jazz it up using your own choice of toppings.

And I should add that I recently compared “Store brand Old fashioned rolled oats” with “Quaker Old fashioned rolled oats.

And this surprised me, but Quaker Old fashioned took the prize for authenticity and consistency of product.

And in contrast, the Store brand appeared to be a jumble of Instant oats and Rolled oats, so I felt that it was not giving me that authentic, natural Rolled oats experience.

But you should test this for yourself, because your store brand might not have this authenticity problem … or maybe some customers liked it more as a mixed product?

At any rate, applause to Quaker for keeping it real!

This blog article was written by Vanna Silverwood, medical writer and outspoken advocate for natural medicine. See more at: simplynaturalmedicine.com. Encouraging stability, helping you clarify your health goals … we are always “Natural by nature!“

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