It makes sense that if you're soaking oats to rid them of phytic acid, you would need to discard the soaking water; however, this process is enzymatic. That means the phytic acid is deactivated (to some degree) and you do not need to discard the soaking water.
Once they're soaked, it's time to cook. Simply bring oats to a low boil. Then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender. Lastly, add in your sweetener of choice, along with cinnamon and flaxseed.
Mix equal parts old-fashioned oats (rolled oats, that is, not quick-cooking-they'll get too mushy) and water along with a pinch of salt in a jar, cover and refrigerate overnight and up to 3 days. For one serving, we recommend using: 1/2 cup oats. 1/2 cup water (or milk or nondairy milk)
The addition of milk to overnight oats creates a creamy texture whereas water won't add any creaminess but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We can compensate for the lack of creaminess and flavor with other nutritious ingredients like mashed banana, plant-based yogurt, or nut butter.
Water and oats combination
This combo is equally impressive for those who love the flavour and texture of oats. Since oats have healthy fats, it is creamy even when you cook it with water, making it all the more delicious.
The seven benefits of oat water include weight loss, protection against cardiovascular disease, aid in blood sugar regulation, assist in detox processes, provide antioxidants, and may also help prevent cancer and osteoporosis.
Simple: oats are up to 60 per cent starch, which is a thickening agent. Starch is a carbohydrate that forms granules made from polymers called amylose and amylopectin. When you cook oats in water or milk, the starch granules swell to absorb liquid and the porridge starts to thicken.
Overnight oats offer a range of health benefits, due to their rich fibre and protein content. They also contain a number of vitamins and minerals, some of which include manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. This makes overnight oats healthy for your gut, as well as for overall health and well-being.
When soaked overnight, the starch present in the oats is naturally broken down and more nutrients are absorbed by the oats through the period of soaking, the acid present in the oats also breaks down overnight and this results in better digestion. Due to its soggy texture, it is much easier to consume in the morning.
Making oats overnight is when you soak oatmeal in a liquid such as milk, making it no-cook oatmeal. Instead of having to cook your oats, you can actually eat them raw by soaking them in milk or water for at least 2 hours or overnight.
If you soak your oats overnight at room temperature (do not put them in the fridge!) between 7-15hrs it allows the natural enzymes and other helpful organisms to begin fermenting the grain and this will neutralise a large portion of the phytic acid.
The longer your oats can soak, the more flavor they will absorb. Avoid keeping prepared oatmeal in the fridge for any longer than 5-7 days.
Is it okay to meal prep several days' worth of overnight oats? Yes, you can (and should) meal-prep your overnight oats ahead of time. Try making a big batch on Sunday evening and portioning them out into jars. Don't worry: The oats can sit in your fridge longer than just overnight without compromising their texture.
By soaking your oats you neutralize the phytic acid. This soaking allows the beneficial enzymes to work and increases the number of vitamins and minerals present that your body will absorb. On the plus side, the process of rolling oats removes at least part of the bran, where a large portion of the phytic acid resides.
Quick-soaked oats could sit for a few minutes or a couple hours. It's all good. Like overnight, you can use equal parts oats and liquid; also like overnight, you can adjust this to taste (I always seem to add more milk).
Go for plain oatmeal, as they are fibre rich. They promote healthy satiety, as they stay in your stomach for hours. It is an excellent choice if you want to curb and reduce belly fat. Don't compromise on your dose of daily carbohydrates if you are planning to lose weight.
Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy. If using non-dairy milk, it's best to stick with unsweetened. Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt make overnight oats more filling, but it also gives the oats a super-creamy texture.
However, overnight oats can be fattening due to other influential factors. The type of liquid you use to soak the oats and any sweeteners or toppings you add to your no cook oats can add on calories that turn overnight oats fattening.
The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.
The best way to reduce phytic acid in oats is by soaking the oats with a splash of acid to help neutralize the pH level. Add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the soaking liquid, and you will have a delicious batch of no cook oatmeal that is ready to quench your hunger the very next day.
Oats unfortunately have a very low amount of phytase (the enzyme that helps break down the phytic acid), so, soaking in warm water with an acid medium will not be enough on its own to adequately reduce the amount of anti-nutrients that naturally occur.
It's highly recommended that you use a probiotic-rich liquid like whey (the liquid on top of your plain yogurt), buttermilk, whole-milk plain yogurt, whole-milk kefir, coconut kefir, when soaking your oats. This helps break down the phytic acid the most (and it also inhibits any harmful bacteria from growing).
Milk is rich in fats, calcium, and Vitamin D that complements the nutrients in oats. Thus oats cooked in milk have benefits over oats cooked in water. Milk has fats, calcium, and Vitamin D that is normally absent in processed oats. Apart from adding a flavour, it also helps in keeping your muscles and bones healthy.
One of the most powerful benefits of oatmeal water is its ability to increase metabolism and help in weight loss. Oatmeal water helps to improve the good cholesterol (HDL) in our body and even lowers the bad cholesterol levels.
Overnight oats (also called ONO) is an alternative way of preparing oatmeal that doesn't involve any cooking. Rather than the traditional method of boiling oats, overnight oats are mixed with milk, or a dairy-free alternative, and left overnight in the fridge, allowing the oats to hydrate.