Why you should consume 2 tablespoons of oats a day –

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Since you started sprinkling oats on papaya every day, you already know: it lowers cholesterol levels and prevents heart disease. What scientists weren’t sure of until a recent study at the University of Queensland in Australia is how this happens. Betaglutan (cereal soluble fiber) alters the action of bile (a fluid produced by the liver), which makes it difficult to absorb fat from the diet.

Read more: What happens when… you include oats in your diet

To get this benefit, combine at least 2 tablespoons of oats a day with a healthy diet. But don’t go too far: “Excess can drag important nutrients, such as vitamin D, out of the body”, warns functional nutritionist Rachel Faria, from Rio de Janeiro.

Anna Pustynnikova