Blog post - The Nutritional Benefits of our porridge
Due to the current climate, where health and wellbeing has risen to the top of our priority lists, a breakfast as nutritious as porridge is just the ticket.
And when we say our porridge is the best, we really mean it. Not only is each pack a taste sensation, it is also jam packed with an abundance of highly nutritious ingredients. Each ingredient has been specifically chosen to provide the consumer with health enhancing goodness that will enable you to thrive!
If you need further proof of why The Great British Porridge Co is such a fantastic breakfast choice, continue reading this blog post where we delve into the composition and nutritional value of each ingredient we use.
The Mighty Oat
The key ingredient which makes porridge an unbeatable breakfast choice is, of course, oats which are simply unsurpassable in terms of their nutritional composition.
Oats are super high in soluble fibre, which not only keeps you full for a long time, it is also absolutely vital for optimum health. We should be aiming to get 30g a day and each serving of our porridge makes up 17% of your recommended daily amount of fibre. So, when paired with your favourite fibre filled topping (fruit, nut butter etc), you'll be well on your way to reaching the optimum amount!
Oats also contain vitamins B1 and B6, as well as zinc, magnesium and iron all vital for overall health and wellbeing.
And if all that isn’t enough, they are also naturally gluten free (if that’s your vibe) and help to regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol. So if they aren’t considered a superfood, we don’t know what is!!
Chia Seeds
These nutritional powerhouses have become very popular in recent years, and for good reason.
Chia seeds are an unprocessed wholegrain, rich in antioxidants, which helps prevent damage to our cells, meaning we are less likely to develop chronic illnesses. They are also a great way to boost your fibre intake as they contain a whopping 35g of fibre per 100g - ideal for helping us keep our GI tract in tip-top shape.
Struggling to increase your protein intake? Chia seeds are the way to go as they are made up of 15% protein, which is very high for a plant-based source. They are also made up of the 9 essential amino acids needed for protein synthesis (the creation of protein molecules), tissue repair and nutrient absorption.
What’s more, they are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a specific type of unsaturated fat proven to improve heart health and reduce inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids are also strongly linked with improved cognition and brain function.
Other health boosting vitamins and minerals found in chia seeds include: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron and copper.
It’s a no brainer why we include these mighty seeds in every bag of our porridge!
Flax seeds
Flax seeds are another fantastic source of omega 3 fatty acids which are beneficial for the reasons listed above, plus, they can help with healthy hair growth whilst nourishing your locks and helping them to look super glossy.
You might have picked up a ‘fibre loving’ theme here, as flax seeds contain around 3g of fibre per tablespoon. This high fibre content helps to slow the absorption of carbohydrates (oats and fruits!) during the digestive process, meaning it can help control blood sugar levels whilst boosting satiety - win win!
Coconut
Coconut is the secret ingredient that makes our porridge taste so delightfully creamy. We use coconut cream, which is made by soaking the white flesh in water, which enables the cream to rise to the top to be scooped out, made into a powder form and popped into food products like our porridge. Not only is it a fantastic dairy alternative, coconut is also high in fibre, plus a fantastic, rich source of vitamins and minerals including vitamins B, C and E and iron.
Other ultra nutritious ingredients we include into our porridge include dates, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, raspberries, cacao nibs and sunflower seeds (to name just a few!). All of which have an abundance of health enhancing qualities that your body and mind will love you for!
