Hercules, oatmeal and oats are the same or is there a difference?

Oatmeal is known for its beneficial effects on the body. Oats are used to make not only food, but also medicines. On the shelves of shops there are many varieties of oatmeal. The customer can choose their favorite breakfast according to their taste and budget. Some cereals require cooking, others just boil with boiling water, so you can choose not only your favorite taste, but also save time for preparing breakfast.

After reading the label, you will notice that some cereals are called "whole oatmeal", others - "oatmeal". There is also a familiar to everyone from childhood "Hercules". Let's figure out how these types of oatmeal differ, what grain is used to make oatmeal, and what is healthier.

Botanical Description and Uses of Oats

In agriculture, a fodder cereal of the Sowing Oat species (Avena sativa) is grown. This annual herb is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and resistance to adverse environmental conditions, gives a rich harvest and is successfully cultivated throughout Russia, including in the northern latitudes.

Signs of seed oats:

1. The plant belongs to the class Monocots, the seed has 1 cotyledon.
2. The growing season lasts 1 year.
3. The root system is fibrous.
4. Plant height 50-170 cm, stem - straw with nodes, 3-6 mm in diameter.
5. The leaves on the stem are alternately arranged, the leaf shape is linear with parallel venation, 20-45 cm long and 8-30 mm wide.
6. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, spinous, collected in an inflorescence panicle 25 cm in length.
7. Fruit type - caryopsis.
8. Flowering plants in temperate latitudes - from June to August, ripening of fruits - from September to October.

Oats have 2 subspecies: chalky and naked. The first has a higher yield.

Oats are used for the production of cereals, flour and a coffee substitute - a coffee drink. Oat products and whole grains are used to make animal feed. In the pharmaceutical industry, oats are used to prepare medicinal tinctures and drugs for the treatment of the liver, for example, "Ovesol". Oat protein is used as a component of sports nutrition due to the variety of amino acid composition.

Oats are not oatmeal. Oats are whole, mature grains of the cereal of the same name, which are used as raw materials for the production of oats, commonly called oatmeal. Several types of cereals are prepared from the seeds of sowing oats: whole oatmeal and oat flakes, more familiar to consumers under the name "rolled oats".

Let's take a closer look at how oatmeal differs from oatmeal and what brings more health benefits.

The composition of oats and cereals based on it

Most of the oat crop is processed into cereals and flour for further use for culinary purposes.

The chemical composition, vitamins and minerals of whole oat grains are presented in the table.

The calorie content of whole oat grains is 316 kcal.

During the processing of grain, its composition changes. The nutritional values ​​for whole oatmeal and oatmeal are shown in the table below.

Whole Oatmeal Calories - 342 kcal, hercules - 352 kcal. Grinding and heat treatment of grains reduces the amount of vitamins and minerals. At the same time, the amount of dietary fiber is also reduced, which proportionally increases the amount of carbohydrates in the product.

Differences between oats, oatmeal and rolled oats

Whole grains are called oats - a raw material for the production of cereals. In their pure form, they are not used for cooking. Among vegetarians, sprouted oat grains are prized for their rich mineral composition.

Consumers call oatmeal any cereals and flakes from which the porridge of the same name can be made. However, according to the terminology of the agricultural industry, oatmeal is considered only the type of oatmeal that has passed the production stages:

• cleaning;
• steaming for 1 minute;
• sorting;
• drying;
• packaging.

In this way, a tough cereal is obtained that resembles whole grains in shape and color. Such oatmeal requires long-term cooking, but due to short-term steaming it is more useful, since it retains most of the nutrients necessary for human health.

Consumers call hercules any oatmeal.... The origin of this name goes back to the times of the USSR, when the only manufacturer of oatmeal produced them under the name of an ancient Greek hero. Over time, the proper name became a household name, since there were no other trade names for this product on the Soviet consumer market. Other producers, after the “emancipation” of the economy as a result of the collapse of the Union, also began to call oatmeal hercules.

Oatmeal is made from oatmeal, not whole oat grains. In production, it goes through technological stages:

• sorting and preparation of cereals;
• steaming for 2-3 minutes;
• crushing and crumbling;
• exposure 25-30 minutes. at high humidity;
• flattening of cereals;
• sifting, cooling and drying;
• packaging.

Oat flakes are produced in several types: oatmeal - the highest grade, petal and "extra", which are divided into classes under the numbers:

• No. 1 - made from whole grains, require cooking up to 10 minutes;
• No. 2 - from coarsely crushed cereals, boiled for up to 5 minutes;
• No. 3 - from finely ground cereals, do not require cooking.

Oatmeal, unlike whole oatmeal, has the shape of flattened plates. Long-term heat treatment with steam deprives the product of some of its useful vitamins and minerals, but speeds up the cooking process.

Useful properties of oatmeal

Nutrients (useful substances) that are part of oat processing products have many-sided beneficial effects on the body:

1. Strengthens bone tissue.
2. They normalize blood formation.
3. Cleanse the intestines, improve the functioning of the digestive tract.
4. They normalize the functions of the nervous and muscle tissue.
5. Reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
6. They restore liver function, cleanse the bile ducts.
7. Strengthens the immune system.
8. Reduces the risk of blood clots.
9. They stimulate the processes of regeneration and renewal of the epidermis, rejuvenate the cells of the body.
10. Support function pancreas, normalize insulin synthesis.
11. Iodine prevents thyroid disease.
12. Sulfur and phosphorus stimulate hair and nail growth.
13. Fluoride and calcium strengthens tooth enamel.
14. Low calorie content promotes weight loss.

Because they store more fiber, vitamins and minerals in whole oatmeal and oat flour, they are more effective for weight loss and health maintenance than oatmeal. To get the most out of your diet, nutritionists recommend consuming sprouted oats raw.

Consumption rate and restrictions on intake of oat products

Oatmeal products can be consumed daily. Nutritionists recommend starting with oatmeal every morning. The consumption rate for a healthy adult is 50-100 g of oatmeal per day (in terms of dry raw materials or flakes).

Like any product, oatmeal has contraindications. It is not recommended to use it for the following diseases:

1. Celiac disease. Oats, like all cereals, contain avenin - an analogue gluten.
2. Food allergies for gluten proteins of cereals.
3. Osteoporosis. Oats and products based on it contain phytic acid, which binds calcium and prevents its absorption in bone tissue.
4. Hyperparathyroidism. Increased production of parathyroid hormone and phytic acid will provoke the development of osteoporosis.
5. Hyperthyroidism or taking iodine medications. Because oatmeal contains this micronutrient, oat-based foods should be avoided during treatment to regulate dosage consistency.

Other ingredients in breakfast also affect the "healthiness" of oatmeal. In case of lactose intolerance, porridge is boiled in water, not milk. People with diabetes Doctors recommend limiting the intake of oatmeal to 30 grams per day (in terms of dry cereal). At the same time, sugar is not added to cereals, and so that breakfast is not bland, it is enriched with berries and fruits.

Conclusion

In agricultural terminology, oats and oatmeal and rolled oats are not the same thing. Oats are whole grains that are used to make oat products. Oatmeal is a cereal that is heat-treated for 1 minute during production, as well as porridge made from oatmeal. Hercules is a type of oatmeal.

Whole oatmeal contains more nutrients than oatmeal, so this type of cereal is preferable to choose for dietary nutrition and weight loss, despite the long cooking time compared to oatmeal. Of all oat-based foods, there are many health benefits sprouted whole oat grains.