By Emily Joshu, Dailymail.Com Health Reporter
September 17, 2023 12:14, updated September 17, 2023 12:26
- Arizona cardiologist says on TikTok that oatmeal has no nutritional benefits
- His remarks sparked controversy among doctors and nutritionists on the platform
- Read more: Ranking of the best diets to reduce heart disease and stroke
A cardiologist has sparked a controversy on TikTok after claiming that oatmeal has “no nutritional value” and is “just propaganda.”
Dr. Jack Wolfson, who practices in Arizona and is referred to as the Natural Heart Doctor on social media, posted a video earlier this month explaining why he never recommends eating oatmeal, known as porridge in the UK.
The video, which has been viewed more than 4.6 million times, received backlash from many doctors and nutritionists who said Dr. Wolfson was spreading misinformation and ignoring the health benefits of oatmeal.
“As a cardiologist, I would never recommend eating oatmeal. Of course, not every day like many people do,” he told his 448,000 followers.
“Our ancestors didn’t eat oatmeal. You shouldn’t either.”
Dr. Wolfson went on to say that oatmeal has “no nutritional value” and is “rich in anti-nutrients,” without providing specific examples. Instead, he urged viewers to choose eggs over oats for breakfast.
However, oatmeal is rich in fiber and several minerals, which have been shown to prevent chronic health problems such as diabetes.
DailyMail.com reached out to Dr. Wolfson’s team but did not receive a response.
“There has been a lot of advertising in recent years about the benefits of oatmeal, all of which has been supported by industry such as Nabisco, Quaker Oats, and Kellogg, who encourage eating oatmeal on top of oatmeal and eggs. I think we just do it,” Dr. Wolfson said.
Dr. Wolfson specifically said that people should eat eggs instead of oatmeal. Eggs are rich in vitamins A, B5, B12, D, and E, as well as important nutrients such as calcium and protein.
“An egg is a cocoon for a baby chicken. It contains all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins that the chicken needs to survive.
“You can’t raise chickens on oatmeal. You can’t raise healthy humans on oatmeal,” Dr. Wolfson continued.
But his critics said there was no reason people had to choose between eggs and oatmeal.
Dr. Siyab Panwar, a cardiologist at NYU Langone in New York City, responded to Dr. Wolfson’s video on Monday, urging users to “don’t listen to alternative medicine influencers on social media for health advice. ” with a caption encouraging people to do so.
“I’m a board-certified cardiologist here, so I’m going to say that’s garbage,” he said.
“No one should listen to this person for any advice about heart or health.”
He pointed to research showing oatmeal has lasting benefits for heart health, including lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar levels.
Reviews published in magazines Frontiers of pharmacology They found that the antioxidants found in oats may lower blood pressure by producing more nitric oxide gas. This dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow.
Abby Sharp, a nutritionist and content creator, responded on TikTok to a video Dr. Wolfson made last year, making the same statement about the health benefits of oatmeal.
“No, absolutely no,” she said.
“Oats are rich in unique antioxidants (avenanthramides) that may actually lower blood pressure, and have been shown to lower bad cholesterol levels, slow insulin response, and support satiety. It is the main source of dietary fiber beta-glucan.
“So not only are oats clearly not bad for your heart health, they’ve actually been shown to be very good for you.
“Here’s a crazy idea: What if you had eggs, coffee, and oats for breakfast? That way you’ll have a balanced, heart-healthy diet,” Sharp said. .
Fiber counters the effects of sugar spikes and helps regulate the digestive system. One cup of cooked oatmeal contains about 4 grams of fiber, which is about 20 percent of a woman’s recommended daily intake of fiber and a man’s 10 percent of his intake. .
This fiber is also filling, promoting weight loss because you don’t need as many calories to feel full.
Additionally, half a cup of dried oats contains nearly two-thirds of the daily recommended intake of manganese, a trace mineral needed by the body to regulate blood sugar and maintain normal brain function.
“There are many health benefits to eating oats,” Dr. Panwar said.
He also pointed out that Dr. Wolfson’s statement that our ancestors did not eat oatmeal was “absolutely false.”
A study by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has found that oats date back to the Paleolithic period, about 32,000 years ago.
