Health

Quick, Healthy, and Delicious No-Cook Recipes

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Oats are an incredibly healthy food that provides fiber, whole grains, and B vitamins, among other nutrients. Studies have linked oats and oatmeal to a number of health benefits, but the length of time they take to cook is a major deterrent to those who might enjoy them. Who has the time to wait for old-fashioned or steel-cut oats to cook on the stove on a busy weekday?

Fortunately, there is another way: overnight oats. This no-cook technique allows oats to be quickly prepared up to a full day ahead, and is as versatile, good for you, and delicious as cooked oatmeal.

What Are the Health Benefits of Oats?

Oats are a terrific way to increase your intake of whole grains, which most people fall short of, according to research. The most recent data shows that only around 15 percent of the grains Americans consume are whole grains, according to research published in the Journal of Nutrition.

U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that figure be at least 50 percent.

Oats are also a good source of fiber, with 4 grams (g) per ½ cup serving, per U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.

That amount includes a kind of fiber known as beta glucan, which research has found to be essential to a healthy diet because of its heart healthy, gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, per a review published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

In early 2024, reports about oat and wheat products testing positive for a pesticide known as chlormequat chloride raised some concerns, but the study, which was published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, was small, and to date, no studies on the effects of this chemical in humans have been done, although some animal studies have shown it may cause reproductive and developmental issues.

Ultimately, this is not a reason to avoid eating oats, given their many other proven benefits.

How to Make Overnight Oats

All you have to do is soak the oats — any kind works, including old-fashioned and steel-cut oats — in any liquid, or even yogurt, and let time do the rest. The oats will absorb the liquid and soften without needing to be cooked, resulting in a creamy base for fruits, nuts, and other ingredients.

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