“The Oat and the Fart” could very well be the title of a romantic novel due to the fact that these two concepts are closely linked even though they share little in common at first glance.

Ladies, does your partner suffer from flatulence? If so, try the suggestions outlined below.

Oatmeal is an excellent nutrient and oats are not for horses alone. Here is a brief breakdown of what oats contain:

• 10 per cent fibre
• 63 per cent complex carbohydrates
• 14 per cent protein
• 7 per cent unsaturated fat

Unfortunately, some of us have issues when digesting this nutrient-rich food. We often have to ask ourselves a rather binary question. Do we wish to suffer from flatulence or diarrhoea? In other words, should we consume oats or avoid them entirely? The main issue is that our digestive systems differ drastically in terms of lifestyle, health and dietary habits. This is why there can be instances when a natural sensitivity to oatmeal will lessen in time with no type of external intervention. However, it is also possible for one to experience bouts of indigestion that were not present in the past. The main takeaway point is that this situation is far from hopeless. There is always a solution.

Plan A: Augment Your Digestive System!

It is always a good idea to leverage the benefits of a finely tuned digestive system. Two worthwhile options to consider are turmeric (a spice), an intestine-friendly bacterial complex (sometimes known as a probiotic) or a similarly healthy digestive enzyme. While excellent in helping you process oat flakes, these substances boast all-around spectacular results.

The bottom line is that a digestive system which is able to function at a higher level is capable of absorbing a greater quantity of nutrients.

Plan B: Try a Variety Preparations

There are various solutions which can help oatmeal become easier to digest. Let us take a quick look at a handful of useful suggestions.

Why Should You Sometimes Avoid Fruit with Oatmeal?

It can often be difficult to digest two different types of foods simultaneously. For instance, one of our readers observed that raw fruits combined with cereals can spell trouble for the digestive tract. If you do indeed wish to eat these two substances in combination, do so sparingly or try dried fruit as an alternative to fresh varieties.

Grind Your Oats or Consume Oat Bran

Oat bran is derived from the husked crust of the oat seed. As a result, it offers a much higher nutrient profile (nearly double the fibre content). Oat bran also contains less protein and fat if you happen to be concerned about cardiovascular health. While ground oatmeal is easier to digest when compared to its whole counterpart, problems might still occur.

Soak Your Oatmeal

This suggestion helped me. Place the oats into a bowl of water and allow them to soak overnight. You can then rinse the oats and consume them normally. Oats can likewise be washed and mixed with protein. For example, one reader observed that no one should be discouraged at the digestive comfort caused by oats, as the soaking process helps to lessen the effects of substances that might otherwise cause issues within the gut. Feel free to experiment with different varieties such as rolled oats or Scottish porridge.

Cooked Oatmeal

As mentioned previously, porridge is an excellent option if you cannot consume raw oats (although be sure to not overcook your porridge). Feel free to add your favourite protein supplement as well.

If none of these solutions help, it might finally be time to say goodbye to oats entirely.

VJ