One of the primary reasons many people shy away from eating old fashioned oatmeal is its bland taste. In fact when instant oatmeal was created the manufacturers sought to solve this problem by adding ingredients such as sugar, salt and a wide range of flavorings. Of course, the problem here is that these added ingredients are not known to be kind to the various body systems. For example, high levels of sugar consumption harms the endocrine system while salt is most unfriendly to the circulatory system.

Fortunately, there are a number of ingredients that you can add to old fashioned oatmeal to enhance the taste and at the same time help you to sustain a healthy body. I would just discuss five of them here; these include honey, cinnamon, berries, bananas and stevia.

Honey: Honey is a natural sweetener that comes with a whole heap of health benefits and it does not substantially spike insulin levels. Honey has also been found to be a great source of energy and a powerful antioxidant.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon has an appealing taste to the palate when added to foods. Furthermore, it has been found to be an effective regulator of blood sugar levels and helps fight against arthritis and high LDL levels.

Berries: Berries add sweetness and enhance the taste of oatmeal as well, but perhaps the biggest benefit of adding berries to a bowl of oats is the enormous amount of antioxidant they normally contain. Antioxidants help to build up the immune system so that the body can effectively fight off attacks from viruses and bacteria.

Bananas: Bananas are loaded with potassium and are known for their ability to help lower blood pressure. A few slices of bananas will do wonders to a bowl of oatmeal.

Stevia: Stevia is another natural sweetener. It is perhaps as sweet if not sweeter than sugar. When added to oatmeal it will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth and unlike sugar will not spike your insulin levels or add any extra calories to your meal.

All five of these of food items are great at enhancing the taste of oatmeal while helping the body hold many common illnesses at bay. Oats, and in particular oatmeal, should be an integral part of any health conscious diet. Oatmeal is an excellent super food that naturally helps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is also is effective in stabilizing blood sugar and may even help to fight cancer. Regardless of the taste you should have at least one serving of oatmeal today. Add any or all of the listed five foods and make it a dieter's delight.