# Oatmeal and lowering your cholesterol **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 26, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778 "2007-04-26T20:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/1 "2007-04-26T20:30:29Z")
Okay, I know they saaaaaaaay you can lower your cholesterol by eating oatmeal, but I don’t know anyone who’s tried it. I’m thinking about alternating oatmeal and Cheerios every other day. I’m trying to drop about 40 points off my reading. Have you done this? How long did it take? Is it realistic to think I could lower it that much? I’m also going to drink OJ, which I’m told is another good way to bring the numbers down. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/2 "2007-04-26T20:32:03Z")
Oatmeal is especially good at lowering your cholesterol if you eat it instead of bacon and eggs every morning. (Note: do not put bacon bits in the oatmeal.) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/3 "2007-04-26T20:44:44Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Oatmeal is especially good at lowering your cholesterol if you eat it instead of bacon and eggs every morning. (Note: do not put bacon bits in the oatmeal.) [/QUOTE] I was hoping there was no truth to that rumor. Damn it. Back to the drawing board! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/4 "2007-04-26T20:51:39Z")
For about a year, I have replaced my breakfast of crap\* with oatmeal for 4 days a week. I have significantly reduced my Cholesterol levels, but I also increased by fiber intake via a lot more salads and increased my exercise. The Oatmeal does help, but it is no magic pill. Jim - Anything from Pop tarts to Egg McMuffins or Donuts. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/5 "2007-04-26T20:53:28Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I was hoping there was no truth to that rumor. Damn it. Back to the drawing board! [/QUOTE] Well, don’t take my word for it. You need no excuse to enjoy a wonderful piping hot bowl of oatmeal. With raisins, of course. I loves me some Quaker Oats. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/6 "2007-04-26T21:02:43Z")
I like Cheerios Day better than Oatmeal Day. But I’m working on it. I’m also snacking on dry Cheerios. Like a toddler! ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/7 "2007-04-26T21:35:30Z")
About 2 years ago I switched from no breakfast in the morning to a bowl of instant oatmeal every morning and my cholesterol dropped about 30 points. YMMV, but I don’t see any harm in trying it. ---
**Author:** ![rock\_party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@rock\_party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rock_party)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/8 "2007-04-26T21:39:16Z")
Try steel cut oats. They really lowered my #'s and they’re better tasting (texture wise) than those snotty rolled oats. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/9 "2007-04-26T21:43:04Z")
[QUOTE=rock party] Try steel cut oats. They really lowered my #'s and they’re better tasting (texture wise) than those snotty rolled oats. [/QUOTE] Where does one get these strange, yet interesting oats? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/10 "2007-04-26T21:44:08Z")
[QUOTE=dolphinboy] About 2 years ago I switched from no breakfast in the morning to a bowl of instant oatmeal every morning and my cholesterol dropped about 30 points. YMMV, but I don’t see any harm in trying it. [/QUOTE] That’s what I’m talkin’ about! ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/11 "2007-04-26T21:49:40Z")
Last time I went to the doctor, he said my cholesterol was down, too, but I don’t know which should get the credit: the bowl of Quaker Oats I eat every morning, or the half a Lipitor I take around the same time. I figure the oats don’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/12 "2007-04-26T22:01:55Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Well, don’t take my word for it. You need no excuse to enjoy a wonderful piping hot bowl of oatmeal. With raisins, of course. I loves me some Quaker Oats. [/QUOTE] You **cook** it?! I eat it like nature intended, straight from the packet 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/13 "2007-04-26T22:02:33Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] The Oatmeal does help, but it is no magic pill. [/QUOTE] Well wait a moment then…where would one get these magic pills of which you speak? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/14 "2007-04-26T22:04:03Z")
[QUOTE=Gr8Kat] Last time I went to the doctor, he said my cholesterol was down, too, but I don’t know which should get the credit: the bowl of Quaker Oats I eat every morning, or the half a Lipitor I take around the same time. I figure the oats don’t hurt. [/QUOTE] I was on the Crestor a couple years back, but I went off it. I think I just need to change my eating habits. This time, he didn’t mention the Crestor and told me to try the diet, so here I am. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/15 "2007-04-26T22:06:05Z")
I’ve heard oatmeal was good but never heard about O.J. According to the Mayo Clinic, your right > **[Can eating certain foods help improve your cholesterol levels?](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/cholesterol/art-20045192)** > > The foods you eat can help improve your cholesterol. Here are some top choices. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/16 "2007-04-26T22:06:21Z")
I can’t tell you the numbers because I didn’t ask my doc and he didn’t tell me mine. I can say that he went from wanting to put me on a med for cholesterol to telling me that mine was good after a few months of eating oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/17 "2007-04-26T22:59:31Z")
Okay, okay, okay! I’ll try the damn oatmeal. On steel cut, it does have a very different texture, so if you’ve tried oatmeal before and didn’t like it, give this a try. As to where to get it, try higher-end grocery stores (around here, that would be Fresh Market, Whole Foods, and the Harris Teeter in the fancy neighborhood, YMMV). ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/18 "2007-04-26T23:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I’ve heard oatmeal was good but never heard about O.J. [/QUOTE] A low speed police chase will lower cholesterol? Who knew? I am looking to buy myself some oatmeal also. How do you make them taste better than boiled grain without losing the benefit of eating the oats? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/19 "2007-04-26T23:33:56Z")
[QUOTE=Dunawake] You **cook** it?! I eat it like nature intended, straight from the packet 😛 [/QUOTE] Oatmeal doesn’t come in a packet. It comes in cardboard boxes with very poor packing efficiency. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778/20 "2007-04-26T23:55:24Z")
I eat plain oatmeal (store brand rolled oats) with about a teaspoon of brown sugar and maybe a tablespoon of milk to cut the gluey texture. I already have awesomely good cholesterol levels (and my ‘good’ cholesterol level is very very high), but eating this is very low calorie (two points per serving) and keeps me filled up until afternoon. It takes only 1.5 minutes in the microwave, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oatmeal-and-lowering-your-cholesterol/401778.md?page=2)