Oats Nutrition Facts

Rolled Oats, which are commonly referred to as just "oats" are crushed grains of oat that have been rolled into flakes. The flakes are steam treated in order to soften them and make it easier for the body to digest the grains.

There are many different brands of oats, including some instant options.

Oats are a common breakfast dish and are an excellent source of iron, dietary fiber and thiamin. They also contain antioxidants that are believed to protect the circulatory system from diseases such as arteriosclerosis, which affects the arterial blood vessel.

There are many variations of oats, and each one characterized according to the way in which they have been processed. Steel cut oats are whole, crushed grains of oat, which has been cut into smaller pieces. Steel cut oats are less processed and have a nuttier flavor. They are also commonly referred to as coarse-cut oats, Irish or Scotch oats.

One hundred grams of dry, rolled oats contain about 380 calories, 67 grams of carbohydrates, 16 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat. They also contain 0.7 milligrams of thiamin, 0.7 milligrams of vitamin E, 4 milligrams of iron and 474 milligrams of phosphorous.

In 2005 the top five oats producers according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were Russia with 5.1 million metric tons, Canada with 3.3 million metric tons, United States with 1.7 million metric tons, Poland with 1.3 million metric tons, and Finland with 1.2 million metric tons. Other top producers of oats include Australia, Germany, Belarus, China and the Ukraine.