Established in 1968 under the trade name P.M.Mohamed Ali and Co, one the first products to be branded with ‘Diamond’ was Jack Mackerel, an imported canned fish. Other products range from tea to coffee, basmati rice, milk powder etc.
Introducing oats to its product range, Diamond Best Foods is taking steps to promote ‘a healthier you’ concept among consumers in Sri Lanka.
In keeping with one of the company’s pre-eminent corporate objective – to make available quality and affordable products, Diamond White Oats is now sold at most supermarkets like Keells, Arpico, Family Super and other major groceries island wide. In its aim to make it affordable for the average consumer the product is priced at Rs250 (500g) and Rs150 (400g) as opposed to other known brands.
Oats: What Are They?
Known scientifically as Avena Sativa, oats are a cereal grain grown extensively throughout the world and harvested in early summer. For centuries the primary use of oats has been as fodder for animals especially poultry and horses. Health professionals and major institutions have for the past few years made us aware of the nutritional value of oats in our diet.
Oats are available in several forms.
• Oat groats: un-flattened kernels that are good for using as a breakfast cereal or for stuffing
• Steel-cut oats: featuring a dense and chewy texture, they are produced by running the grain through steel blades that thinly slices them.
• Old-fashioned oats: have a flatter shape that is the result of their being steamed and then rolled.
• Quick-cooking oats: processed like old-fashioned oats, except they are cut finely before rolling
• Instant oatmeal: produced by partially cooking the grains and then rolling them very thin. Oftentimes, sugar, salt and other ingredients are added to make the finished product.
• Oat flour: used in baking, it’s oftentimes combined with wheat or other gluten-containing flours when making leavened bread.
Oats gain part of their distinctive flavour from the roasting process that they undergo after being harvested and cleaned. Although oats are then hulled, this process does not strip away their bran and their germ allowing them to retain a concentrated source of their fibre and nutrients.
So what’s so great about oats?
A steaming bowl of freshly cooked oatmeal is the perfect way to start off your day, especially if you are trying to prevent or are currently dealing with heart disease or diabetes.
Oats are one of nature’s most nutrient rich grains, providing the goodness of wholegrain with some extra ‘super’ benefits.
Studies have shown that oats can effectively lower cholesterol levels, promoting heart health; due to the fact that it’s a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre.
Soluble fibre, known as beta-glucan is found in the bran and endosperm layer of the oat grain. It has been identified as the key active ingredient in oats responsible for contributing to heart wellbeing, specifically the ability to help lower cholesterol re-absorption which therefore significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. It may also reduce LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called “bad” cholesterol) without lowering HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called “good” cholesterol).
Soluble fibre also slows down the digestion of starch, which is beneficial to diabetic patients because it slows down the digestion of starch and avoids sudden rises in blood sugar levels that usually occur following a meal.
Insoluble fibre in oats (the fibre that we don’t digest) helps keep you regular and according to the American cancer society Insoluble fibre’s cancer-fighting properties attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity.
The food, in its natural unprocessed form, also provides a good source of B vitamins, manganese, magnesium, minerals, selenium, vitamin E, zinc, copper and iron and many others. Oats are also a good source of protein.
Other health benefits
- Enhances Immune response to infection – beta-glucan significantly enhances the human immune system’s response to bacterial infection.
- Eating a serving of whole grains, such as oats, at least 6 times each week is known to be beneficial for postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or other signs of cardiovascular disease.
- Fibres from Whole Grains contain protective properties against Breast Cancer.
- Contains many powerful Phytonutrients whose activity has gone unrecognized because research methods have overlooked them. The importance of Phytonutrients in our body is given by their property of acting as antioxidants. Their main role is to diminish the negative effects and numbers of free radicals found in our blood. Antioxidants help cell regeneration by eliminating the free radicals, thus keeping our bodies highly immune to outside diseases.
- Oats fill the bill when it comes to reducing hunger and keeping you on your diet plan. The soluble fibre in oats fills you up by creating gels that delay stomach emptying so you feel fuller for longer which helps with weight loss.
Oats for breakfast?
Why not? It’s a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it.
Oats are often served as porridge made from crushed oats or oatmeal and are also baked into cookies. Oat flour or oatmeal is also used in a variety of other baked goods and cold cereals and as an ingredient in muesli and granola. Oats may also be consumed raw and cookies with raw oats are quickly becoming popular.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and get the benefits of both oats and dairy by serving hot oatmeal, topped with milk. You can also add fruit such as apples and berries etc to add extra flavor and add honey as a healthy alternative to sugar.
For other delicious nutritious ways to enjoy oats, try out the two recipes given below.
Oats short cakes
Ingredients: 150g flour, 150g sugar, 100g butter, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp Diamond Full cream milk powder, ½ cup water, 50g Diamond white oats, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp vanilla essence, 60g cadju nuts, 30g cherries, 60g sultanas or dates, cream for decoration.
Method: Cream butter, sugar and eggs. Add flour, baking powder, milk and beat well. Add essence, fruits, nuts and lastly add oats. Pour into small buttered cases. Bake for 25 minutes (180 degrees Celsius / 360 degrees Fahrenheit). Decorate top with cream.
Oat soup
Ingredients: 2 tbsp of oats, 50g shredded chicken, 4 cups of water, 1 tbsp each of leaks, carrot, cabbage and tomato, 1 tsp garlic, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp butter, chopped onions, pinch of salt, 1 tbsp noodles (slightly crushed)
Method: sauté onions, ginger and garlic in butter. Add water with chicken and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer. Then add oats while stirring. Add all the vegetables and salt. Leave to simmer for a bit, stirring occasionally and finally add noodles and keep covered for a few minutes until noodle is cooked.
