How do you start your day? In a way that supports you or in a way that makes you tired and irritable by noon?
Do you grab a cup of coffee and run? Or do you eat a nutritious breakfast while seated?
St. Hildegard shared much wisdom about what nutritious foods to eat. Her ideas were like seeds planted that continue to flourish into our current times in the field of nutrition and holistic medicine.
Many of her thoughts were written down in her book, Physica, including recommendations for specific foods with health-giving nutrients.
She wrote about the benefit of many spices, herbs, vegetables, fruits, and also specific grains. You may already be familiar with what she shared about spelt, but she also wrote about the health benefits of oats.
She said, “Oats are a happy and healthy food for people who are well, furnishing them with a cheerful mind and a pure, clear intellect. They also provide good color and healthy flesh. They are not suitable as food for those who are very ill and cold, since oats always require heat…”
This is the 5th article in my series of nourishing foods and recipes. A way to support you in taking care of yourself. Did you miss the other ones? You can find them here:
Increasing Your Vitality in Winter with St. Hildegard’s Greening Power
A Powerhouse Drink to Support your Immune System
Easing the Discomfort of Illness in Winter
An Easy, Nutritious Snack to Help Curb Cravings
Here are your best options to buy at the store:
- Rolled oats (regular or old-fashioned oats) – These are oat groats that have been rolled into thicker flakes.
- Steel-cut oats (sometimes called Irish oats) – The whole oat kernel cut up into pieces.
- Scottish oats – These are similar to steel-cut oats, but they’re ground instead of being cut.
- Oat groats – These are the simply the whole oat kernel that’s not cut, flaked or ground. They do take longer to cook!
Oats are an incredibly nutritious food packed full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A true powerhouse! Today, through research, we know that eating oats has many health benefits. Here are some of them:
- Heart health – may lower risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol.
- High in fiber – supports healthy bacteria in your gut, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and increased feeling of fullness.
- Rich in antioxidants – these can help lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
- Relieves skin irritation – often called colloidal oatmeal when used for skin care, finely ground oats, when applied to the skin, can help to relieve symptoms of various skin conditions such as eczema or itching.
You can enjoy oats in many different ways. One of my favorites is below.
Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl
- 1/2 cup of rolled oats
- 1 cup of water
- A pinch of salt
- toppings
Combine first 3 ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cooking the oats for about 5 minutes until the water is absorbed and the oats are soft. Stir occasionally.
Serve with your choice of toppings and a splash of milk or water. Here are some favorite toppings, but you can also create your own!
Toppings
- Chopped apples, cranberries, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves with a drizzle of honey
- Blueberries, sliced almonds, (food grade) lavender, Greek yogurt, coconut sugar
- Pears, ginger, chopped walnuts
- Bananas, toasted coconut and pecans, raisins, a dash of allspice
Here’s to a healthy Springtime for you! I hope you are well and taking care of yourself. Looking for my recent articles on nutritious foods with recipes? You can find them here:
Increasing Your Vitality in Winter with St. Hildegard’s Greening Power
A Powerhouse Drink to Support your Immune System
Easing the Discomfort of Illness in Winter
An Easy, Nutritious Snack to Help Curb Cravings
