Oats in the breakfast or paratha, which is healthy?

Are you drooling too after reading the topic of the article? Well, at least I am. I mean, who can resist the tasty oatmeal or the delicious mouthwatering parathas! Think of those people who need to choose between any two. Very tough choice, I must say, but let's try and make it a bit easy for them, what say?

Have you ever seen an oats vs. paratha battle? If you haven't, don't forget to check out this article and know about their different health benefits.

OATS VS. PARATHA – DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM BOTH

Oats is a kind of cereal mainly eaten in the form of oatmeal or some other savory preparation.  Over the past few years, oats have gained popularity by being one of the best healthy foods. It can be consumed as porridge or as a baked food item, such as oatcakes or oat cookies. Oats have dietary fibers which keep the body fit.

Well, parathas givea tough competition in this case. Parathas are considered to be healthy aswell. Parathas are mainly flat thick pieces of Indian bread. They are roasted on a griddle and are round in nature. Usually, they are made with wheat flour that is very healthy for the body.  Parathas are often seen as unhealthy because some people consume them with an extensive amount of ghee or oil.

So, before jumping straight to the benefits of oats and paratha, let’s study some health benefits of wheat. Wheat is considered as the third most cultivated grain after maize and rice.

Having wheat flour in the breakfast has various health benefits:

1. It is a good source of soluble fiber
2. Rich in macronutrients & vitamins that are essential for the body
3. It lowers the risk of health problems
4. It also reduces the risk of obesity
5. Easy to digest and provide sumptuous energy for a productive day

Level of micronutrients in wheat & oats?

Protein, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, total sugars, monosaccharides, disaccharides, soluble fibre, insoluble fibre, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and other macronutrients can all be found in wheat.

Total fat, total carbohydrate, saturated fat, proteins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and other macronutrients are found in oats.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF OATS AND PARATHA

Oats

1. Lowers cholesterol levels

Consumption of high fiber food like oat reduces the total cholesterol level and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Food supplements with oats, like oat flour or oatcake, canalso reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. Hence, oats should be consumed at least twice a  week to maintain a healthy body.

2. Antioxidants

Oats contain a number of molecules like avenathramides which are basically polyphenols. They are known as antioxidants. These molecules help to lower blood pressure by producing more nitric oxide. They also act as an anti-inflammatory element hence are not harmful to the skin. Other antioxidants include Vitamin E (tocols) and phytic acid.

3. Weight loss

Eating oats as porridge is delicious as well as filling. The beta-glucan in oats makes you have the feeling of fullness even if you have less sufficient amount of food. This, in turn, will help you lose weight because you will be consuming very little food. Oatmeal slows down the process of emptying the stomach, and hence you'll feel less hungry.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE OATS?

The best time to have oats will definitely be during breakfast. If you miss out on having it just after waking up, then you might also miss out on the chances of adding nutrients to your body at the starting of the day.

Furthermore, oats can be consumed at night too because they are rich in fiber and will also keep you full so that you don't have midnight food cravings.

Paratha

1. Provides energy

Paratha is a bread made from whole wheat; hence it has a lot of calories and carbohydrates.  Paratha can be an excellent choice for your breakfast both for its taste and energy. It can be a  boost of energy to start your day. Adding some vegetables with it would be an absolutely heavenly combo for people concerned with healthy eating.

2. Full of carbohydrates

Parathas have carbohydrates that help in the functioning of the brain and kidneys. Carbohydrates are very important for the body since they cure headaches, fatigue, and nausea. The deficiency of carbohydrates may cause the above-mentioned problems in your body, so a balanced diet havingparathas is essential.

3. Good for  Bones

Whole wheat parathas are rich in phosphorus. Phosphorus is an essential mineral that combines with calcium to build stronger bones.

4. Carbohydrate Metabolism

Parathas contains high amounts of Vitamin B1, which is important to maintainglucose metabolism. It helps in absorbing the energy from the food consumed and also converts it into ATP.

5.Good for Brain

Rich in niacin, parathas are considered best for boosting brain function and improving mental health.

6.Rich in folic acid

Rich in folic acid parathas can help generate red blood in the body. Besides all this, folic acid is also helpful in preventing DNA changes which could lead to different kinds of cancer. Folic acid also plays crucial role particularly during pregnancy.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE PARATHAS?

Honestly, parathas are very tasty, and you can literally have them at any time. Still, for those who want to have parathas for health-related purposes, it is preferred they should have it either during breakfast or lunch.

Don't have parathas in an unhealthy way, i.e., by adding an ample amount of ghee or oil because,  in that way, it's of no use. Try to add vegetables like fenugreek, spinachor cauliflower to your paratha and enjoy your paratha with a bowl of curd, to make it a more complete meal. This will also help your neutralize the fat and carbs level.

Finally, we've come to the end of this article!

So what do you think is a healthy morning breakfast? Oats or parathas? We know it's pretty tricky to choose and be biased towards one item. Though both the dishes make a really good healthy breakfast, only if cooked the right way and had in the right quantity.

So, before indulging in any of these items, study well, ask your nutritionist and then decide. Eat whatever fits you the best. Take your time and think. After all, it's never too late, folks!