Stuck in a breakfast rut? It can sometimes feel difficult to think of a meal that’s both tasty and healthy. However, a nutritious breakfast is essential to your overall health, and it’s important to kick sugary, processed options like cereal and pastries to the curb if you want to keep your body in tip-top shape—this is especially true when it comes to your gut health.
Luckily, there are actually tons of healthy, delicious, and versatile breakfast foods out there. Take oatmeal, for example. Health experts agree that eating oatmeal is one of the best ways to start your day, and there’s no shortages of nutritious ingredients to add to the mix. In fact, registered dietitian nutritionist Ginger Hultin has one fantastic recipe that she says can boost gut health and immunity—all while pleasing your taste buds at the same time: banana ginger oats. Find all the info on this delicious and nutritious breakfast below!
Don’t forget tomorrow is #NationalOatmealDay! These Banana Ginger oats are nutrient dense, great for immune support and delicious! Check out the recipe on my blog: https://t.co/LeFaQaPa5C pic.twitter.com/EKYo0qbjwi
— Ginger Hultin Nutrition (@GingerHultinRD) October 28, 2022
Banana Ginger Oats
This banana ginger oats recipe is about as simple as they come; all it takes is mixing some banana, milk, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla into your oats. And luckily, it’s as healthy (not to mention delicious!) as it is simple. Oats themselves are great for your body thanks to their high fiber content, which means they’ll be able to keep you fuller longer and aid weight loss. But the other ingredients offer their own share of health benefits. Ginger is an incredible spice that can help get your gut health in order and boost immunity, and banana offers similar upside. All in all, this is a recipe made in heaven. Both your taste buds and your gut will love it.
Ingredients: banana, rolled oats, milk, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla
Benefits of banana for gut health and immunity
The main attraction of this recipe is the banana. This popular fruit isn't only delicious; it's also packed with health benefits, especially when it comes to gut health. "We all associate bananas with potassium which is very important, but bananas are amazing for our gut health because of their fantastic prebiotic benefits," nutritional therapist Jenny Fontana tells us. She says that many people fail to realize the importance of feeding the good bacteria in your gut for healthy digestion. "You need to feed your probiotic bacteria, so they will flourish and you will have a happy gut," she explains. And adding banana to your diet by mixing it into recipes like this one is a great way to do that! Fontana says this fruit is "loaded with the prebiotic fiber that the good bacteria thrive on" and notes that they "are also great at helping to reduce bloating." Perfect!
Another great thing about banana is the fact that it contains high amounts of vitamin B6, which is essential to our immune systems. This, combined with the immunity-boosting benefits of a healthy gut, makes banana a fantastic choice for anyone looking to improve their immune system this winter.
READ MORE:
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Benefits of ginger for gut health and immunity
While banana may be the star of the show here, ginger gives these oats an equally delicious and nutritious kick. This spice offers a whole range of health benefits and is an especially good ingredient for anyone who wants to boost immunity and gut health. Just like banana, the gut-healthy benefits of ginger stem from the fact that it feeds the good bacteria in your gut to combat dysbiosis. "Ginger helps to bring balance to the gut and thereby reducing bloating, nausea, and gas," Trista Best, dietitian for Balance One Supplements explains.
Plus, not only can this powerful ingredient help ease digestive issues, but it's also anti-inflammatory thanks to compounds known as gingerols and shogaols. Overall, ginger makes for a fantastic, supercharged oats ingredient—especially when combined with the banana and antioxidant-rich cinnamon in this recipe. Yum!
READ MORE: Health Experts Say Drinking This One Tea Every Day Can Help Boost Immunity Over 40
