Why does Horizon use “hulless” oats?
Hulless oats or naked oats, similar to hulless barley, lose their hull during harvest. Because the hull is naturally removed during threshing, this greatly reduces the risk of having any issues with aflatoxins or mycotoxins on the seed. The nutrient composition of hulless oats is high relative to other cereal grains. Hulless oats are higher in protein, lysine, methionine and total essential amino acids, additionally they carry a higher level of lipids, of which about 40% is the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. Perhaps the biggest benefit of hulless oats is the appreciable amount of beta glucans. Beta glucans increase the viscosity of the luminal contents. As the digesta thickens due to these water-soluble beta glucans, it is thought that they impair re-absorption of bile acids. With the thickening of the digesta, starch digestibility may be slowed and could explain why hulless oats lower the glycemic index more than other grains. This effect certainly has implications in diabetic di
