Oat fiber.
Raw materials used in production.
- The fundamental raw material for oat fiber is the oats themselves, which are grown and harvested in fields.
Step-by-step summary of industrial production process.
- Harvesting. Oats are harvested from the fields when they have reached maturity.
- Cleaning. Post-harvest, the oats are cleaned to remove impurities.
- Fiber Extraction. The oats are then processed to extract the fiber. This may include a milling and sieving process to separate the fiber from other components of the grain.
- Purification and Further Processing. The extracted fiber may undergo further processing and purification to meet desired specifications, such as particle size.
Form and color.
Oat fiber is typically available in a powdered form and can vary in color from white to beige.
Commercial applications.
Oat fiber is used in a variety of products, including food items like bread and cereals to enrich them with dietary fiber, but also in dietary supplements and occasionally in skincare products.
Food Industry. Oat fiber is utilized as an ingredient in various food products to increase fiber content, improve texture, and provide nutritional benefits.
Dietary Supplements. It is often included in dietary supplements for its provision of soluble fiber, which can promote digestive health and lower cholesterol.
Baking. Used in baking to enhance the structure of bread and other baked goods, adding fiber and a certain natural sweetness without added sugars.
Animal Feed. Oat fiber can be used in animal feed to enhance digestion and stool consistency.
Cosmetics. In some instances, oat fiber may be utilized in skincare products for its ability to absorb moisture and leave skin feeling soft.
Oats (Avena sativa) is native to the Mediterranean regions and belongs to the Poaceae family.
The active components are hypolysaccharides of mucilosis (β-glucan), proteins (glutelin and avenin) and flavonoids (1).
It contains a good amount of potassium and vitamin B and is one of the cereals that have a particularly low glycemic index.
Oat has been used for generations as a traditional herbal medicine for the symptomatic treatment of minor skin inflammations (such as sunburn) and is used as an aid in healing minor wounds.
It has been used by traditional medicine as a remedy for some dermatological pathologies, such as dry skin, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and psoriasis.
Oat flakes are produced industrially through a steaming oat cooking process.
Rich in fiber, they carry out an action of containment of harmful LDL cholesterol.
Oat flakes studies
References________________________________________________________________________
(1) Boz H. Phenolic amides (avenanthramides) in oats-a review Czech J. Food Sci. 2015;33:399–404. doi: 10.17221/696/2014-CJFS.