A cardiologist has sparked controversy on TikTok for claiming that oatmeal has “no nutritional value” and “is just propaganda.”
Dr. Jack Wolfson, who practices in Arizona and goes by Natural Heart Doctor on social media, posted a video earlier this month about why he never recommends eating oatmeal, known as porridge in the United Kingdom.
The video, which garnered more than 4.6 million views, received backlash from numerous doctors and dietitians who claimed that Dr. Wolfson is spreading misinformation and ignoring the health benefits of oats.
“As a cardiologist, I never recommend eating oatmeal, much less every day, as many people do,” he told his 448,000 followers.
‘Our ancestors did not eat oats. You shouldn’t do it either.
Dr. Jack Wolfson, an Arizona cardiologist, has sparked controversy by claiming that oatmeal has “no nutritional value” and “is just propaganda.”
Dr. Siyab Panhwar, a cardiologist at NYU Langone in New York City, posted a response to Dr. Wolfson’s video on Monday with a caption urging users not to “listen to alternative health influencers on social media to get health advice.
Dr. Wolfson went on to say that oats have “no nutritional value” and “contain many antinutrients,” but did not provide any examples. Instead, he urged viewers to opt for eggs for breakfast instead of oatmeal.
However, oats are high in fiber and several minerals, which have been shown to prevent chronic health problems such as diabetes.
DailyMail.com contacted Dr. Wolfson’s team but did not receive a response.
“There has been a lot of propaganda over the years about the benefits of oats, and I think all of that is really due to industry support (Nabisco, Quaker Oats, Kellogg’s) to promote that we eat oatmeal and porridge instead of eggs “. Dr. Wolfson said.
Dr. Wolfson specifically said that people should eat eggs instead of oatmeal. Eggs are rich in vitamins A, B5, B12, D and E, as well as vital nutrients such as calcium and protein.
‘An egg is a cocoon for a chick. An egg contains all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats and proteins that a chicken needs to live.
‘You can’t raise a chicken on oats. “You can’t raise a healthy human being on oats,” Dr. Wolfson continued.
However, experts who criticize it say that there is no reason to have to choose between eggs and oatmeal.
Dr. Siyab Panhwar, a cardiologist at NYU Langone in New York City, posted a response to Dr. Wolfson’s video on Monday with a caption urging users not to “listen to alternative health influencers on social media to get health advice.
“Eating oats has many health benefits,” said Dr. Panhwar. These include fiber for digestive health, as well as minerals like manganese, which support brain health.
Dietitian Abbey Sharp (left) and eye surgeon Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler (below right) posted responses to a previous video by Dr. Wolfson making the same claims. Both said oats have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease.
“I’m a board-certified cardiologist and I’m here to tell you that’s garbage,” he said.
“No one should listen to this person for any kind of heart or health advice.”
He pointed to studies that have shown that oats may have lasting benefits for heart health, such as lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar.
A review in the magazine. Frontiers in pharmacology The antioxidants found in oats could lower blood pressure by producing more nitric oxide gas. This helps widen blood vessels, which improves blood flow.
Abbey Sharp, a dietician and content creator, responded on TikTok to a video Dr. Wolfson made last year making the same claims about the health benefits of oats.
“No, just no,” he said.
‘Oats are actually rich in a unique antioxidant (avenanthramide) that can lower blood pressure and are a major source of beta glucan fiber, which has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol levels, slow insulin response and promote the feeling of satiety.
“So not only are oats not bad for your heart health, but they’ve also been shown… to be pretty good.”
‘Here’s a crazy idea: why not have eggs, coffee and oatmeal for breakfast? “This would give you a balanced, heart-healthy meal,” said Mrs Sharp.
Fiber counteracts the effects of sugar spikes and helps regulate the digestive system. One cup of prepared oatmeal has about 4 grams of fiber, about 20 percent of the recommended daily fiber intake for women and 10 percent of the intake for men.
This fiber is also filling, which promotes weight loss because it doesn’t take as many calories to feel full.
Additionally, half a cup of dry oats has almost two-thirds of the recommended daily intake of manganese, a trace mineral the body needs to regulate blood sugar and maintain normal brain function.
“Eating oats has many health benefits,” said Dr. Panhwar.
He also noted that Dr. Wolfson’s claim that ancestors did not eat oats “is simply wrong.”
A study by researchers at Washington University in St Louis found that oats date back to approximately 32,000 years ago, in the Paleolithic era.
