A Breakfast That Packs a Punch

“And in the breakfast corner, stepping into the ring at the prime weight of half a cup, we have oatmeal. With an impressive record of 7-9 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 175 mg of potassium—it’s oooaaat time!” Athletes like Mike Tyson are known to have oatmeal for breakfast to fuel their bodies, and for good reason! Oats are well-studied for their benefits to the cardiovascular system. Their high fiber content, specifically beta glucans, support healthy cholesterol levels and healthy blood pressure by relaxing the arteries.^{1 2 3} Throw some organic pumpkin seeds, blueberries, and maple syrup in there and you’re set to step into the ring and take on the world!

I’ll Have an Oat Milk Latte, Hold the Glyphosate

One of the most notoriously used herbicides in conventional oat farming is glyphosate. Glyphosate is the most widely used weed killer in the world, with 113 million tons sprayed annually in the United States alone.⁴ This toxic spray is known to be a probable human carcinogen, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, disrupt neurological and endocrine function, and deplete biodiversity on land and in waterways.⁵ Scary stuff! A 2023 investigation found eight percent of oat milk samples tested contained glyphosate above the recommended maximum allowable amount.⁶ For how widely we consume oats in various forms, from oatmeal cookies to oat milk, it is imperative we choose organic to protect each other and our planet from this toxic herbicide.

Better Soil, Better Crops, Happier Planet

One of the nasty effects of the glyphosate used in conventional oat farming is that in addition to killing unwanted weeds, it wipes out the microorganisms living in the soil. Healthy soil is alive with microorganisms like bacteria, invertebrates, and fungi that breakdown organic matter that provides nutrients for crops, builds soil structure, and plays important roles in processes like carbon sequestration. Conversely, the practice of crop rotation commonly used in organic farming helps build nutrient-rich soil, reduces pollution in waterways, and even reduces the farm’s fossil fuel emissions.⁷ With an increasing demand for oats, namely due to the rising popularity of oat milk, more farms in the U.S. are introducing oats into their crop rotations.⁸ Choosing organic oats supports healthier soils, and a healthier YOU!

Try Our Savory Oat Muffins

We all know sweet muffins, but have you ever tried a savory muffin? Give your tastebuds a break from sweet and try these endlessly customizable Savory Oat Muffins!

GET THE RECIPE

References

1. Perrelli, A., Goitre, L., Salzano, A. M., Moglia, A., Scaloni, A., & Retta, S. F. (2018). Biological Activities, Health Benefits, and Therapeutic Properties of Avenanthramides: From Skin Protection to Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2018, 6015351. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6015351
2. Anwar, M. A., Al Disi, S. S., & Eid, A. H. (2016). Anti-hypertensive herbs and their mechanisms of action: part II. Frontiers in pharmacology, 7, 50.
3. The Nutrition Source: Oats. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022, March 2). https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/oats/
4. Winstone, J. K., Pathak, K. V., Winslow, W., Piras, I. S., White, J., Sharma, R., Huentelman, M. J., Pirrotte, P., & Velazquez, R. (2022). Glyphosate infiltrates the brain and increases pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα: implications for neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of neuroinflammation, 19(1), 193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-022-02544-5
5. Costas-Ferreira, C., Durán, R., & Faro, L. R. F. (2022). Toxic Effects of Glyphosate on the Nervous System: A Systematic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(9), 4605. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094605
6. Testing finds glyphosate in two popular oat milks. Environmental Health Network. (2023, May 24). https://www.ehn.org/glyphosate-free-oat-milk-2659999493.html
7. Hunt, N. D., Liebman, M., Thakrar, S. K., & Hill, J. D. (2020). Fossil energy use, climate change impacts, and air quality-related human health damages of conventional and diversified cropping systems in Iowa, USA. Environmental science & technology, 54(18), 11002-11014.
8. Mayer, A. (2023, June 12). Bringing oats back to American farms. Civil Eats. https://civileats.com/2023/06/12/bringing-oats-back-to-american-farms/