The Reason You Should Always Soak Oats Before Preparing Them

A bowl of oats with freshly cut fruit can be one of the most satisfying treats to have first thing in the morning. Not only is this a healthy breakfast, but it's a wholesome meal that can keep you satiated for a long time, according to Scientific American. Oats are known to be high in fiber which helps you feel full for a longer period and keeps your digestion in check. In other words, oats are a solid dietary option if you're looking for a breakfast or snack that's filling, nutritious, and tastes pretty good, too.

One of the best things about oats is that you can easily customize them based on your taste preferences. For example, you could add mashed bananas, nuts and unsweetened cocoa powder to your bowl of warm oats for a sweet treat. The possibilities are endless, but aside from adding flavors, learning how to properly prepare them can make all the difference. And something people largely forget is how beneficial it can be to soak your oats before cooking them.

So, why is it so important to soak your oats before turning them into a tasty breakfast? It's mostly because of digestion. Oats can be tough for your stomach to process (via Our Inspired Roots) because they're technically seeds. One of the compounds responsible for this is called phytic acid, which allows oats to stay longer in the digestive system. Soaking is essentially a good way to break down this compound so your body can get easier access to nutrients.

In fact, The Telegraph advises you to soak them overnight for the best results or for a minimum of seven hours to eliminate phytic acid and reap all the benefits that a wholesome bowl of oats has to offer. You can either soak them with a bit of salt or experiment by making a delicious bowl of overnight oats with ingredients like fruit, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and more — whatever suits your fancy.