Oats are a food product that is highly versatile, relatively cheap and provides loads of health benefits. They are extremely popular and easy to work with, especially when it comes to breakfast and dessert recipes.
Oats provide so many health benefits, as they are rich with fiber, protein, minerals and vitamins, making them a no-brainer when it comes to overall diet. However, there is rising concern over the amount of contamination of glyphosate in oats, which is NOT good for our health. When choosing to eat “healthy” foods, it’s important to choose products that are actually healthy! Otherwise, what’s the point?
In this blog post, we will discuss how to choose healthier oats in the grocery store which do not contain traces of glyphosate. There are options! You just have to know what to look for.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate (i.e. Round Up) is an herbicide that is widely used in agriculture to eliminate weeds, but it also finds its way onto the crops as well, including oats. When crops are contaminated with glyphosate, us humans then ingest it, putting us at risk of developing diseases. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), glyphosate has been classified as a probable human carcinogen and can cause various forms of cancer.
Tips on How to Choose Healthy Oats:
Organic, USDA Certified Oats
- Choosing to buy organic oats is a truly reliable way to minimize your exposure to glyphosate. Organic farms prohibit the use of synthetic herbicides (glyphosate) and follow strict guidelines in farming practices.
- Look for a label that says “USDA Certified Organic” on the product!
Non-GMO Oats
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are any plant, animal or organism whose genetic makeup has been modified, creating genes that do not exist naturally. GMOs are designed to be resistant to herbicides like glyphosate, allowing them to survive the exposure, yet they are still contaminated.
- Look for a label that says “Non-GMO Project” on the product!
Steel Cut or Rolled Oats
- These types of oats are minimally processed and are a healthier choice, compared to instant oats. Processed oats often lose much of the nutritional value, plus they have a high risk of glyphosate contamination.
Sprouted Oats
- The healthiest type of oats you can buy are sprouted oats. They are higher in magnesium, GABA, vitamins, fiber and protein compared to unsprouted oats. Sprouted oats are also much easier to digest than unsprouted oats, allowing your body to absorb all the benefits and leave you feeling good!
- Look for the word “sprouted” on the label. These oats have the same texture and consistency as regular unsprouted oats you would buy (rolled or steel cut), just more benefits!
Recommended Brands:
One Degree Organic Foods
My favorite brand for oats is One Degree Organic Foods. I buy the organic sprouted rolled oats! I use these for a variety of recipes including overnight oats, breakfast oat bake, cookies, protein bites, and even smoothies! I love this brand because they are transparent about the farming and the oats are organic, non-GMO, glyphosate free, gluten free and very affordable!
You can get these oats at Costco, Amazon (link here), or some local grocery stores!
Here’s a link to their website if you’d like to check them out!
Bob’s Red Mill
When shopping this brand, just make sure it’s organic and non-GMO! These oats come in many varieties and are commonly found in health food stores, they also have gluten free options. Although they don’t offer sprouted oats to my knowledge, they are still a great option!
Pick up rolled oats here, steel cut oats here, and gluten free oats here!
Terrasoul
This brand is all organic, non-GMO, gluten free and third party tests their products, ensuring they are safe for consumption! Terrasoul also keeps pricing affordable for their customers, yet they deliver high quality products.
You can check them out here.
In Conclusion
Oats are a great staple food to have in the house at all times, as it is easy and can be used for so much! Hopefully this helps guide you when buying healthy oats in the future! What we put in our bodies is so important and we want to gain as many benefits as we can to keep us healthy! Glyphosate puts our health at risk, so avoiding it where we can makes all the difference.
Follow the 80/20 Rule!
I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to your health.
80% of the time, make healthy choices. 20% of the time, it’s okay to relax a bit.
Not everything has to be perfect! All you have to do is try your best and intentionally make choices that make sense for your life.
Try to use the most safe and healthy products to your knowledge. It’s never too late to make changes and try out something new!
I’m here to help and support you. Let’s create a healthy, less toxic community and take our power back!
Looking for more content like this one? Check out my post on the Top 3 Healthy Protein Powder Brands! You can find it here. Visit my website here for more information and guidance on living less toxic!
References
GMO Facts. Non-GMO Project. https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/
IARC Monograph on Glyphosate. World Health Organization. https://www.iarc.who.int/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/
One Degree Organics. Sprouted Oats FAQs: Questions and Answers About Sprouted Oats. One Degree Organics. http://www.onedegreeorganics.com/sprouted-oats-faqs/
Only Organic. (2020, February 13). Glyphosate Facts Everyone Should Know. Only Organic. https://www.onlyorganic.org/glyphosate-facts-everyone-should-know/#:~:text=Conventional%20farmers%20spray%20glyphosate%20on,to%20glyphosate%20herbicides%20are%20unknown.
Round Up for Breakfast: Part 2. In New Test, Weed Killer Found In All Kids Cereals Sampled. Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2018/10/roundup-breakfast-part-2-new-tests-weed-killer-found-all-kids