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.

Are oats naturally gluten free?

No, oats don’t contain gluten naturally. However, the question “is oatmeal gluten-free? ” becomes complicated when it comes to how oats are grown and manufactured. Commercially sold oats can sometimes be contaminated with gluten if they are mixed with grains like wheat, barley and rye during the manufacturing process (more on this below). Pure oats …

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Are oats good for health?

Oats are among the healthiest grains on earth. They’re a gluten-free whole grain and a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Studies show that oats and oatmeal have. This of course begs the question “Are oats good for your gut health?” And oats are solid choice to help promote healthy gut bacteria …

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Are oats carbs?

Oats may be the healthiest whole grain food on the planet. Raw oats contain 66% carbs, nearly 11% of which is fiber. They are particularly high in a powerful soluble fiber called oat beta-glucan. They are a great source of many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Raw oats contain 66% carbs, nearly 11% of which is …

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Why do oats make me bloated?

“Whole grains such as wheat and oats contain high fiber, glucose, and starch,” says Shannon Henry, RD for EZCare Clinic. “All of them are consumed by bacteria in the gut or large intestine which leads to gas and bloating in a few people. To lessen the side effects, start with a small quantity and increase …

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Are oats an allergen?

Oats are one of the 14 listed allergens. For oats to be called ‘gluten-free’ they must have been specially produced, prepared and/or processed in a way to avoid contamination by wheat, rye, barley, or their crossbred varieties and the gluten content of such oats must not exceed 20 mg/kg. Yes, because some brands claim to …

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Where do oats grow in usa?

South Dakota produces the most oats in the United States followed by North Dakota and Wisconsin. Oats are best grown in temperate regions. They have a lower summer heat requirement and greater tolerance of rain than other cereals, such as wheat, rye or barley, so they are particularly important in areas with cool, wet summers, …

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Do oats make you gassy?

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. A common question we ran across in our research was “Why do whole grains Make …

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