There are so many reasons to include oats (old fashioned, steel cut, oat bran, oat flour, etc.) in your diet.

First, the oat bran. It's the outer protective coating of the kernel and a good source of silicon, a trace element needed for healthy joints and normal bone growth. Studies show that oat bran helps reduce blood cholesterol and help prevent heart attacks. It's the fiber in oatmeal that gets credit for this.

Next, this grain has excellent nutritional qualities. It's complete with proteins, B vitamins, calcium, unsaturated fats, and the already mentioned fiber. Because of these superb nutritional qualities, oats boost immunity, protecting against recurrent infections.

They strengthen the immune system as well. Oats are a rich source of selenium, which works with Vitamin E to bestow antixodiant benefits throughout your system. Which means lower risk of asthma, and a reduced risk of cancer - especially of the breast and colon.

Also, oats are seen to be particularly beneficial for post-menopausal women, protecting them from raised blood pressure and thickening of arteries.

And type 2 diabetes patients have reported lower blood sugar levels after starting their day with oats.

And dieters take note: Oats keep you feeling fuller longer, which helps with weight loss.

Finally, oats are a hardy grain, known scientifically as Avena sativa. They withstand poor soil conditions which kill other grains. And happily, even though oats are usually hulled, this process does not strip away their bran and germ, so they retain their concentrated fiber and nutrients.

Have you wondered which type is best - steel-cut, rolled, old fashioned, or instant?

Good news! Ruth Frechman, registered dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says that it doesn't matter which type you choose because they all pack the same nutritional punch. "No matter what kind it is, it's a whole grain and has important health benefits," she says. "Bottom line? I recommend that everyone eat oatmeal."

From one of my favorite websites, Care2, I found these good ideas starring oats:

Heat a little olive oil, and pop some mustard seeds into it. When the mustard seeds begin crackling, add some chopped vegetables, salt and pepper to your taste, and cook until they are tender but slightly crunchy. Now add the oats, and cook for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle some freshly chopped cilantro or parsley leaves on top, and enjoy hot.

Grind some oats to a powder, and knead them into your tortilla dough, pizza or pie mix for a power punch.

Mix oats with fresh yogurt and a sliced banana.

Add to your oats sliced strawberries, blueberries, flaked almonds, sunflower seeds, sultanas, raisins or sesame seeds.

Thicken your soups and stews with oats.

And one of my own tips:

Stretch your ground beef by adding dry oats when cooking. This adds fiber (which meat lacks), nutrition, and makes it more digestible as well.

And if you have some delicious, offbeat ideas for harnessing the healing power of oats, please share them with me! We'll watch for your comments on the Forum.