By Mary N. DiZazzo

OATS—Not just for horses!

“About 95% of all oats grown today are used as animal feed.”

Ciao bella,

We are graced with many natural ingredients that are grown or found in our environment. Another wonderful find is oats. A cereal grain grown for its seed was once considered a weed that grew with barley and wheat.

Oats are now the third leading cereal crop grown in the United States. Oatmeal has become very popular in most recent years due to its health and cosmetic benefits. But years ago it was considered a grain for the poor.

Oats have an outside hull that is used to make medicine and cosmetic products. The hull must be removed for human consumption and other parts of the plant are used in product.

Used as a natural exfoliant with its rough texture the most popular benefit of oats is to help heal dry, itchy skin. Dermatologists suggest oat products for people suffering from sunburn, eczema, psoriasis and the itch for chicken pox.

Also known to sooth and calm skin, you can find the benefits of oats in shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers, exfoliating masks and cream. Look for the "Aveeno" line of products since oat is its principal ingredient.

As for its health benefits—known to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels that can lead to heart disease, high cholesterol and diabetes. Oats can also control appetite by causing a feeling of fullness.

So hit the market or the drugstore to feel the benefits of oats.  Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.mary4nails.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com.