Oatmeal is considered a staple food in the bodybuilding world. There are many oats, e.g., rolled oats, instant oats, oat bran, and steel-cut oats. Whichever type you decide to consume, they are all nutritious.
When bodybuilding, it is advisable to add oatmeal into your daily diet as it contains plenty of nutrients that will help you more during workouts or training. Oatmeal is a complex, slow-burning carb and a great source of energy.
General nutritional information of oatmeal
- One dry cup of oatmeal contains;
- 5 grams of fat
- About 11 grams of proteins.
- 56 grams of carbohydrates.
The following are examples of oatmeal varieties: –
- Flavoured minute oats
These oatmeals are flavoured, and they are bland to eat. These oats are pretty high in sugar levels, and from a health point of view, you will get complex carbs from these oats. Since it is mixed with sugar, it will have a high GI ranking index.
- Steel-cut oats.
These oats have low digestibility as they haven’t been altered. It takes a long to cook. They have full nutrition content among the varieties of oats. This variety has a low GI rating index.
- Regular minute oats.
Takes a short time when cooking. They are more refined than the other varieties. Due to their fine characteristic, they are often the go-to when preparing recipes that require oats, such as muffins and oatmeal cookies.
The con of this type of oat is that they are altered from their original form hence having a higher GI index rating. They are often relatively good for the overall health.
- Rolled oats
They have a slightly heartier taste and texture since they have not been cut from their original size. Rolled oats often taste great when toasted.
The general importance of oatmeal in your diet.
- Contains muscle-building nutrients.
Oatmeal contains essential nutrients that are useful to the body, especially when building muscles. A cup of dry oatmeal contains about 1 gram of niacin and about 3.5 grams of iron. Iron helps transport oxygen into the bloodstream and the muscles, while niacin helps convert carbohydrates into energy to use the proteins properly.
- It contains vitamins and minerals.
Oatmeal is a good source of vitamins and minerals such as thiamine, vitamin E, and biotin acid. These minerals and vitamins help strengthen the immune system and speed up the rate of reaction to infections. The minerals and vitamins also help you to heal your injuries faster. This helps in bodybuilding since you can’t train while you are sick. So, if you are feeling unwell, these minerals and vitamins come in to aid you in recovering faster.
- Oats are a good source of fibre.
Oatmeal offers a good source for soluble and insoluble fibres. Although this is not directly related to bodybuilding, this is very crucial to your health. Soluble fibre reduces bad LDL cholesterol without the risk of lowering HDL cholesterol. This is achieved by forming a sticky gel in the digestive system that grabs the cholesterol in the body. Insoluble fibres, on the other hand, help the body with digestion.
Fibres are also crucial in preventing constipation since bodybuilders have to consume large amounts of proteins from fish, meat, etc., the fibre aids them in indigestion.
- It is a good source of proteins.
Oatmeal has about 11 grams of proteins, as previously mentioned. Judging bodybuilders depend on the levels of muscles and muscular symmetry. Hence bodybuilders need to build solid and rigid muscles and condition their bodies to be fat-free and lean. Oatmeals are ideal for their diet since the meal contains a perfect combination of carbs, proteins and most importantly, it has low-fat levels.
The muscles experience tiny tears and ruptures when working out and lifting weights. The body requires protein and carbs to rebuild worn-out muscles. Consuming oats will be a good way for bodybuilders to replenish their muscle strength.
- Gives a steady energy supply.
Energy is an essential factor when it comes to bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is accompanied by a lot of exercises that need to be accomplished. You can’t do these exercises if you lack or you don’t have enough energy.
Oatmeals benefit bodybuilders since they are an excellent tonic for supplying energy. If you plan to build huge muscles, you need more than just proteins for the intense aerobic and lifting exercises.
Research shows that most bodybuilders consume high proteins, low-fat diets, and more carbohydrates. More carbohydrates are essential in maintaining muscle mass during training or competitions.
The male bodybuilders consume about 3200 calories per gay before the competition, which is more than an average person’s consumption.
Carbs restore the glycogens. Glycogens are used for energy production when the glucose level goes down. You are recommended to eat more oatmeals as they contain carbs. This is very important for a bodybuilder since it forms healthy complex carbohydrates, making the bodybuilder feel much better.
- It is a rich source of magnesium.
This is an electrolyte that helps in the building of muscles. It helps the muscles relax, which then prevents the occurrence of cramps. A dry cup of oatmeal contains forty-one milligrams of magnesium.
- It contains low levels of saturated fats.
Bodybuilders need to lower their consumption of saturated fats as much as they can. Continuous and increased consumption of saturated fats may lead to critical and complicated health conditions such as stroke and cardiovascular diseases. A cup of oatmeal contains about 2 grams of saturated fats, which are considered low concentrations.
Recipes for oatmeal in building stronger muscles.
A well-balanced diet contains vegetables, fruits, proteins, and carbohydrates. Eating oats in protein-packed dishes is beneficial in bodybuilding by constantly providing you with meal plans.
During breakfast, the bodybuilders’ diet should be packed with a lot of protein-containing foods and carbs. You will find that the best source for proteins and carbs ai actually oatmeal, so it’s a must-have meal in your diet.
For a sweeter breakfast, you are required to soak the oats with almond milk, yogurt, or any other milk over the night. When the morning comes, they will be awesome and easily mixed with other recipes such as bananas, raspberries, nuts, cheese, and even strawberries.
You can use oats as a carbohydrate when combined with the meat of fish for your dinner. Mix the oats with onions, mushrooms, kale, or any vegetable you like. Eat the dish alongside your fish or meat. Mixing these dishes with a well-balanced diet, you can fully get its benefits for bodybuilding.
General side effects of oatmeals.
- It is suitable for the health of the heart.
Research shows that continuous consumption of oats has a cholesterol-lowering effect which is good for the heart. Especially the soluble fibre in oatmeal helps reduce LDL cholesterol.
- Helps improve skin conditions.
Colloidal oatmeal is widely known for its beautiful effects on dry skin
- Controls the blood sugar levels.
Continuous daily consumption of oatmeal is significant in controlling blood sugar levels due to high fibre concentrations. It also slows down the rate at which the carbohydrates in the diet reach the bloodstream, making the blood sugar level even.
- Helps in feeling full.
Oatmeal as a whole grain contains high fibre content. When you consume fibre, especially soluble fibre, the digestion is naturally slowed down; as a result, it brings about the feeling of fullness.
- It may also cause bloating.
This case is typical, especially if you are new to oats. It is advisable to start with small portions. Oats contain glucose, starch, and high fibre content. All these are consumed b the bacteria in the large intestines, which then leads to bloating. To reduce these side effects, start with small portions.
The bottom line.
Oatmeal can be of incredible effects on a body builder’s body. It can help you live longer and also tastes delicious, especially when you make peanut butter.
Because oatmeal is an excellent source of healthy proteins, carbohydrates, and fibre, it can be a perfect addition to the body builder’s diet. It helps repair muscles and increases their growth. Oats also have complex carbohydrates that have a long digestibility providing the bodybuilder with steady energy for an extended period.
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