If there was ever a grain that could make beauty claims, it would be oatmeal.   Inside or out, oatmeal  has true skin care creds. Oatmeal is a good source of protein, iron, copper, folacin, vitamin E and zinc, but it is the fiber content  that makes oatmeal a nutritional rock star.  This low  cost, gluten-free, salt- free grain has not one but two types of fiber:  #1 is soluable fiber in the form of beta glucan, a powerful cholesterol lowering tool.  Fiber #2  is oat bran, an insoluable beauty fiber with additional  heart healthy benefits.

But wait there’s more.  Oatmeal contains phenol compounds that inhibit  production of inflammatory compounds  called cytokines that tend to break sdown collagen.  If the collagen  is not under attack, the  skin is firmer and  less lined.   Even better, the compounds in oatmeal work as well on the skin as they do in our food.

Oatmeal contains both saponins which are gentle, through cleansers and anti-oxidants  that offer  UV protection.  The cholesterol lowering beta glucans in a bowl of hot  oatmeal  also  help  the skin lock in moisture when used in cleansers and moisturizers. 

Oatmeal is just about the most effective and affordable  anti-aging ingredient  you can buy.  Aveeno  has a wonderful selection of oatmeal based skin care products and a package of Quaker oatmeal  can be used in side and out.  Most oatmeal in the US  is consumed as a  hot cereal, but it can also be added to ground  meat dishes ( eg meatballs and burgers) and  baked goods.  I love a bowl of oatmeal with dried cranberries and  walnuts, but  on the weekends  I take a few extra minutes to  serve up oatmeal and yogurt panckes.  These are so healthy its almost silly.

Weekend Oatmeal Pancakes

(Adapted from the back of the box of McCann’s Oatmeal)

Ingredients:  1 1/2 cups  uncooked oatmeal, 1 cup plai low fat yogurt, 1 cup skin milk, 1/2 cup flour, 1 packet of Equal or i teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 large beaten eggs, 1/4 cup chopped  walnuts or pecans.

Directions:

Mix together yogurt, milk, oats and honey or Equal.  Stir in flour and baking soda and mix well.  Then add chopped walnuts.  Batter will be thick and lumpy.   Spray  Pam on a non-stick griddle and heat for a few minutes.  Ladle out 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake.  Cook until  you see bubbles on top and the bottoms are browned. FLip and cook another  2 minutes.  This  makes 10-12 pancakes.   I love to top these with  a dollop of  Greek yogurt  and finish with a teaspoon of sugar-free apricot jam.