John Westfield

I'm a lifelong cooking enthusiast with a special love for strange and underused ingredients. I hope this blog helps open your mind to more of the wonderful edible treasures around us.

Do oats need to be organic?

For oatmeal to be considered certified organic, the oats should grow in organic fields where pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers are involved. However, the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Kosher allow organic farmers to use some pesticides of plant origin or pure chemicals such as sulfur and copper. Then, are organic oats better for …

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Do oats make you constipated?

Oatmeal doesn’t usually cause constipation. In fact, oatmeal usually relieves constipation due to its high soluble fiber content. However, it is possible for oatmeal to cause constipation if someone is not used to eating it, or if it’s eaten alongside another food like dairy, which can be the root cause of digestion issues. Can porridge …

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Are oats high in protein?

Surprisingly high in protein for a grain, oats contain 10.9g protein per 100g. However, oats on their own aren’t a ‘complete’ protein . Our bodies need nine essential amino acids to build protein – they’re called ‘essential’ because our bodies can’t make them so we must consume them via food. ‘Complete’ proteins contain adequate amounts …

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What do oats smell like?

Raw oats should have a sweet nutty smell, look dry and taste neutral without any strong, bitter or foul flavors. Discoloration: Fresh oats will have a light brown or cream-like color. Any bright or dark colors could be caused by the growth of mold or bugs that have penetrated the storage container. Here is what …

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Do oats give you gas?

When oats are combined with sugary toppings or prepackaged contents, this may contribute to the production of intestinal gas. The production of gas is often caused by the bacteria in your intestines working hard to digest the protein and starch. So, does oatmeal make you gassy? One way to think about this is a 1/2-cup …

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Do oats lower testosterone?

Compounds in oats called gravesides can limit the level of sex-hormone-binding globulin in the system, thus increasing testosterone levels. Last week the motel I stay at was giving away free breakfast everyday. Another thing we wondered was are oats bad for testosterone? From what I understand foods with a high glycemic index are bad for …

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What oats are?

Oats are grains from the cereal plant, Avena Sativa, and once harvested are processed for use in animal feed, skin products or food. For food use, oats are milled, steamed, heated and cooled in a kiln, which brings out the flavour. The oats are then rolled, cut or ground to produce flakes, oatmeal or flour. …

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Where does oats come from?

Oats come from the Avena sativa plant, which is a type of cereal grain that can be considered a distant relative within the grass family. Raw oats are gluten free, while wheat contains the protein gluten. Then, where do oats come from in the world? Oats, ( Avena sativa ), domesticated cereal grass (family Poaceae) …

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