Oatmeal is a popular morning staple for many people. However, while oats contain many health promoting properties, there are certain toppings you may want to avoid adding to your bowl of oats.
Liquid Sweeteners
One of the worst ingredients you might be adding to your oatmeal is a liquid sweetener such as agave nectar. This is for two reasons:
- Adding a fast digesting sweetener like agave on top of a large dose of carbohydrates (as in oatmeal), can lead to a spike in blood sugar and insulin. This will put your metabolism on a blood sugar rollercoaster which leads to cravings and energy dips. The spike in insulin also puts your body in fat-storing mode for several hours.
- Furthermore, agave nectar is high in fructose. Unlike glucose which can be used for energy, fructose has to first be processed by the liver before it can be used by the body.
When excess fructose reaches the liver, it is used to create fat. Over time, this can result in too much fat being stored in the liver cells, which can result in liver inflammation and damage. Too much fructose also damages your microbiome and gut health which then damages your metabolism.
What sweeteners are ok to add?
It is important to note, however, that it is completely fine (and encouraged!) to consume fruit, which contains fructose. The fructose found in fruit is in its whole form and is therefore not digested and absorbed as quickly.
A more metabolism friendly addition to oatmeal might therefore be fruit such as berries, bananas, or kiwi. This will provide you with some added sweetness along with added nutrients and fiber, keeping your metabolism happy!
