What do you eat for breakfast to get your fiber? Fruits, vegetable salads? Actually, oatmeal, which you might eat for breakfast, also contains a good amount of dietary fiber, contributing to your daily fiber intake. I’ve heard that oatmeal can help cleanse your intestines.

What’s the secret behind oatmeal’s cleansing properties?

Oatmeal is a treasure trove of dietary fiber

A notable feature of oatmeal is that it contains many essential nutrients for modern humans, including dietary fiber, iron, calcium, and other nutrients.

It’s particularly high in dietary fiber, containing approximately 9.5g per 100g. This is approximately 19 times more than white rice and about three times more than brown rice, which is generally considered a high fiber source.

Dietary fiber helps eliminate excess fat and harmful substances from the body, earning it the reputation of being the “sixth nutrient.”

The Ratio of Soluble and Insoluble Fiber is Ideally Balanced

Oatmeal contains two types of dietary fiber: insoluble fiber, which continuously absorbs water in the intestines, stimulates the intestinal lining, and promotes bowel movements; and soluble fiber, which dissolves in water to form a gel, adsorbing waste products and toxins for excretion.

If only one type is present, the intestines won’t be fully cleansed. The ideal balance is “insoluble fiber: soluble fiber.” Oatmeal contains 6.2g of insoluble fiber and 3.2g of soluble fiber, offering a perfect balance of both types.

Our intestines contain beneficial bacteria, called “good bacteria,” and harmful bacteria, called “bad bacteria.” If the “bad bacteria” dominate, harmful substances in the intestines increase, making it more likely to develop polyps or cancer in the colon. Soluble fiber also helps to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, maintaining a healthy intestinal environment and maintaining colon health.

Clean Intestines = Super Health

The intestines are home to approximately 70% of immune cells, making them the front lines of the battle against harmful substances.

When feces accumulate in the intestines for extended periods, such as due to constipation, toxic substances are absorbed and transported throughout the body through the bloodstream. This can lead to poor circulation, causing discomfort such as shoulder pain and dry skin.

Not only that, constipation can also weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and allergies like hay fever, weakening your body’s defenses.

Conversely, eating foods high in dietary fiber can alleviate constipation, cleanse your blood, and improve your metabolism. This naturally improves your skin, and alleviates problems such as shoulder pain and coldness.