What is so great about oats?

Oats are a grain, commonly eaten for breakfast as oatmeal.  Oats can benefit you in many ways.  Oatmeal is prepared simply by pressing grains of oat between two large rollers, flattening them so that they cook a little faster and are easier to chew.

eat this

Oatmeal by itself is a stick to your ribs kind of breakfast, providing plenty of fiber, protein and calcium and potassium, which makes it beneficial for your heart.  Calcium and potassium are known to reduce blood pressure, while soluble fiber helps to keep your digestive system operating normally while regulating the rate that your body absorbs energy from your food.

Starting the day with oatmeal can get your day going by jump starting your digestive system with plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates to keep you fuller longer, and feeling more satisfied with your food. There is actually a compound in oats, known as β-glucan, that has been proven to actually help your body to not feel hungry.

Oatmeal can also make an excellent addition to smoothies.  Adding 1/4 cup of uncooked oatmeal to a fruit smoothie increases the protein and fiber content significantly, while adding all kinds of important nutrients.  Also, oatmeal lends a creamy texture to the smoothie, thickening it and making it more substantial.

Common herbs with uncommon properties

There are many common herbs that you can find at most supermarkets, that have really amazing properties.  Herbs like rosemary and thyme are easy to grow, easy to find at the store and can have some really awesome health benefits.  Some organic livestock operations even use them to improve the health of their animals.

Sage - By Jonathunder - Own work, GFDL 1.2

• Rosemary -  Rosemary contains compounds that have proven anti-oxidant effects.  Traditionally, rosemary has been used for a wide variety of ailments, including improving memory, reducing stress and soothing the digestion.  
• Thyme - Compounds in thyme have been shown to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  In fact, thymol, an oil found in thyme is a major ingredient in mouthwash, giving it the strong, medicinal flavor that helps to keep your mouth clean and feeling fresh.
• Oregano - Traditionally used to help improve digestion, oregano has a slightly spicy flavor and contains compounds that are anti-bacterial and sanitizing.
• Parsley - A common ingredient in many italian dishes, parsley contains some important nutrients and is able to improve the smell of a person's breath, especially if they've been eating raw garlic.
• Sage - Culinary varieties of salvia, or sage can have a variety of benefits for people.  

Herbs have been used for centuries to improve the flavor of food, and for their medicinal benefits.  Now, modern research is gathering more and more information regarding the specific compounds in the plants and how they can be used to help improve our health.