Originally published October 3 2013
The health benefits of colloidal oatmeal
by Michael Ravensthorpe
(NaturalNews) Colloidal oatmeal is very finely ground oatmeal that has been added to water. Though it might sound like a fad product, this milky-white colloid has been around for hundreds of years and contains just as many health benefits as regular oatmeal. In this article, you'll learn more about these health benefits and how to prepare a bath using an oatmeal colloid.
Please note that you should try to use organic, certified gluten-free oats when purchasing or making colloidal oatmeal. Even if you're not sensitive to gluten, this troublesome protein substance is best avoided whenever possible.
Health benefits
Treats numerous skin conditions - Oats are rich in beta-glucans, which are polysaccharides that can reduce skin inflammation, activate immune cells in the skin and stimulate collagen deposition. For this reason, oatmeal has always been regarded as a natural skin healer - and colloidal oatmeal is no exception. The difference between oatmeal and colloidal oatmeal, however, is that the former is ingested as a food, whereas the latter is soaked by the skin, allowing for superior beta-glucan absorption. Consequently, virtually every inflammatory skin condition can be eased (and often cured) using colloidal oatmeal: chicken pox, sunburn, eczema, diaper rashes, poison ivy, sumac and oak rashes, insect bites, acne, psoriasis and more. In fact, oatmeal colloids are so effective in this regard that even the Food and Drug Administration (not exactly known for being friendly to natural remedies) regulates them as a skin protectant.
Cleanses the skin - Oats are also rich in saponins, which are chemical compounds found in numerous plant species. These saponins give oatmeal and oatmeal colloids remarkable cleansing, moisturizing and soothing qualities that produce wonderfully nourishing and invigorating baths and facial scrubs (not to mention excellent ingredients for skin care products). For this reason, occasional colloidal oatmeal baths are a good idea even if you don't have any skin conditions to treat. You can even give them to your pets!
Lowers blood cholesterol - Colloidal oatmeal's aforementioned beta-glucans are a water-soluble fiber, meaning that they have a high water-holding capacity. This allows the beta-glucans to gently travel through the digestive tract, attach themselves to bile acids (which are made from cholesterol) and then remove them from the body. This ultimately reduces 'bad' LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease.
How to make a colloidal oatmeal bath
To make a bath using oatmeal, fill the bathtub with warm water and pour two or three cups of (ideally organic and gluten-free) colloidal oatmeal into it. To aid dispersion, you could pour the colloid directly into the faucet's water stream. Then, soak in the bath for ten to fifteen minutes. After rinsing yourself and getting out, pat (rather than rub) yourself down with a clean towel.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.thetastyalternative.com
http://science.naturalnews.com
About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.
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