A doctor has warned that a popular breakfast choice could cause significant blood sugar spikes, depending on the type of oats used. Dr Sam Watts explained that while porridge is generally healthy, instant or processed oats can lead to rapid glucose increases, whereas jumbo oats help stabilise blood sugar.
According to the Weetabix Great British Breakfast Survey, cereal is the UK's top breakfast, followed by toast and porridge. Porridge has gained popularity over the past decade for being affordable, satisfying, and nutritious. However, Dr Watts cautioned that not all porridge is equal.
Dr Watts said: "Porridge oats are one of the healthiest breakfasts... but if we're eating any kind of processed or instant oats... we get very big and very significant blood sugar spikes." He recommended jumbo oats, which take longer to digest and have been shown to lower or stabilise blood sugar.
Professor Tim Spector from King's College London backed these findings, emphasising the importance of choosing unrefined oats with plenty of bran over highly processed instant sachets. He noted that oats contain beta-glucan, which can help reduce cholesterol levels.
