Oats (Avena sativa) are a fabulous food and tincture for the nervous system. High in silica, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, vitamin A, B complex, C, E, K & amino acids, they contain protein, carbohydrates and insoluble fibre. Do I need to say any more? Let's go eat some oats!

Nervous System & Everyday Wellbeing

Oats are beneficial for anxiety, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and as an anti-inflammatory. They soothe both the inward and outward irritation of the nerves, think itchy skin! Oats are as soothing on the inside as they are on the outside.

Oat tincture is great in a sleep mix, for twitching muscles, jaw clenching and teeth grinding.

Try these: Have a milky oat bath before bed. Put the oats in a stocking and hang it just below the tap so the water runs through it, creating a soothing, calming experience for the entire nervous system while soothing your skin and tired muscles. You'll sleep soundly that night.

For dry, flaky skin or to soothe skin rashes, oats can also be used in the shower. Simply pop a handful of oats into a muslin bag, stocking or square of Chux, wet it under the water, and gently rub it over your skin as you shower. It's a lovely, way to soothe dry, flaky or irritated skin any time of day.

Nutrition & Recovery

Oats are a highly nutritious food for someone recovering from illness or not eating well, when their appetite is low.

Oats are also a great weaning food. Mix a small amount of cooked oats with breastmilk and slippery elm powder as bub transitions onto solids, helping to maintain a healthy infant microbiome.

Oats are very beneficial for balancing blood sugar. Add some cinnamon on top to further enhance this benefit.

Choosing Your Oats

Rolled oats give the most health benefits. Instant oats are highly processed and digested quickly, which can increase blood sugar levels, so avoid instant or flavoured oats at all costs, as they often contain hidden sugars.

Steel cut oats are the least processed and have a low glycaemic index, however, they can take hours to cook. Rolled oats are moderately processed, have a steady glycaemic response, and cook in 10 to 15 minutes. This can be hastened by soaking overnight in the fridge, in milk or water.

Overnight oats are a great summer breakfast or snack, just add yoghurt and berries, and don't forget a dash of cinnamon. Adding stewed apple or pear to oats in winter is a favourite of mine.

Oats contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that slows digestion and helps prevent blood sugar spikes. Beta-glucan forms a thick gel in the gut which binds to low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol, lowering these levels in the blood.

Buying certified organic oats are best, as oats can absorb a large amount of pesticides and are known to contain some heavy metals.

Supporting Recovery from Addiction

In tincture form, oats can be very helpful for someone recovering from cigarette addiction or alcoholism, due to their high B vitamin content. Someone with a problem with alcohol will likely have a small intestine that isn't absorbing nutrients well, and will be deficient in B vitamins.

Oats can help improve nutrient absorption in the Peyer's Patches area of the small intestine, most people would benefit from this aspect of oats.

Digestive & Structural Support

Oats supports the bowel in many ways, not just due to their fibre content. They restores the nerve supply to the small and large intestine, helping it function at just the right pace for nutrient absorption, not too fast and not too slow. Oats are also beneficial for the sphincter muscles throughout the body – think reflux and incontinence, as they help maintain good muscle tone.

Being so high in minerals, oats are very beneficial for the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin, hair and nails.

The Oats Personality

Dorothy Hall's oats person is strong, healthy and fit, someone who doesn't think they need any help with anything. They will keep pushing themselves; it's not in their nature to say "I'm tired" or "I can't keep going." Oats can help support their nervous system and prevent burnout.

A Note on Research

In a double-blind study performed on 75 men and women who had taken Avena sativa extract found significant support for sex drive in men. Related research showed that green oats had the potential to free up bound testosterone, making it more available in circulation.

A Word on Coeliac Disease

Oats should be tolerated by someone with coeliac disease, as long as there's been no contamination with wheat. Oat tincture does not contain gluten, however the body could recognise it as wheat and trigger a response, as the cell membranes have a very similar chemical structure.

I don't use oats for coeliac disease, but I happily use them for those with a gluten intolerance, for all the reasons mentioned above.

Go buy some rolled oats and enjoy the health benefits all year round.

Contact us for more information on the research mentioned above.
info@estuarylearning.org.au.