Every dietitian tells you, “Don’t drink your calories.” Liquid calories tend to bypass the stomach’s “fullness sensors,” causing people to overeat later. But what if there’s an exception to that rule? A growing number of studies, including the drinking oats vs eating oats study, show that liquid oats may offer surprising benefits when it comes to satiety.
Despite the general advice, thousands of Oatzempic users claim they feel fuller on the liquid drink than they do with a traditional bowl of porridge. How can this be?
This post explains the scientific exception to the rule: Viscosity. The drinking oats vs eating oats study suggests that the thickness of the liquid may be the key to why drinking oats can be just as satisfying as eating them. We’ll explore the findings behind this surprising difference and what it means for your daily oat consumption.
The “Liquid vs. Solid” Debate (The General Science)
The general consensus in studies like the drinking oats vs eating oats study suggests that liquids tend to have a faster Gastric Emptying Rate compared to solids. Liquid foods, like juices and smoothies, typically pass through the stomach in about 15–20 minutes, often leaving you hungry soon after. This rapid transit is one reason why liquid calories are often viewed as less satiating than solid foods.
When you eat solid food, like a bowl of oatmeal, the act of chewing triggers the “Cephalic Phase” of digestion. This phase sends signals from the mouth to the brain, informing you that you’re eating and helping you feel full. This process doesn’t happen when drinking liquids, which is why many believe that eating oats is more satiating than drinking them.
Theoretically, eating a bowl of oatmeal should be more filling because you chew it, triggering fullness signals from both the stomach and the brain. However, the drinking oats vs eating oats study challenges this notion, showing that the viscosity of liquid oats may provide an unexpected advantage in terms of satiety.
The Exception: The Viscosity Factor (Rebello et al.)
The Study
The drinking oats vs eating oats study by Rebello et al. (2014) explored the effects of oatmeal consumption in both solid and liquid forms. The research showed that it wasn’t the solid nature of food that mattered most for satiety; rather, it was the viscosity the thickness of the liquid that played a crucial role.
The Oatzempic Advantage
When you blend raw oats with lime and water, you create a colloidal suspension—a thick liquid that acts more like a solid meal in your stomach. The drinking oats vs eating oats study demonstrated that this suspension thickens when it reaches the stomach, expanding the beta-glucan fiber and creating a sensation of fullness similar to eating solid food, despite being in liquid form.
Why It Wins
Unlike juice, which passes quickly through the stomach, the viscosity of blended oats helps slow gastric emptying. This makes drinking oats a satisfying option that provides lasting fullness, challenging the traditional notion that liquids can’t be as satiating as solids.
This connects to the physics we explained in the Oatmeal Gastric Emptying Rate .
The Insulin Factor (Raw vs. Cooked)
When you cook oatmeal, the starch gelatinizes, making it easier to digest and raising its Glycemic Index. This means the sugar in the oats is absorbed more quickly, leading to a faster insulin spike. The drinking oats vs eating oats study suggests that this faster digestion and higher glycemic response may not be ideal for weight management or sustained energy.
On the other hand, blending raw oats preserves the starch structure, making it a resistant starch. This form of starch is slower to digest, which leads to a gradual rise in blood sugar and a more stable insulin response. According to the drinking oats vs eating oats study, this slower digestion can keep you in fat-burning mode for longer and may help with weight loss, unlike the quicker insulin response from cooked oats.
Drinking oats in their raw form, as part of a smoothie or Oatzempic, results in a less significant insulin spike, which is beneficial for long-term weight management. The liquid oats form maintains the benefits of the fiber while reducing the insulin spike commonly seen with cooked oatmeal.
Read more about the raw advantage in Blended Oats vs Oatmeal.
The “Oral Processing” Hack (Get the Best of Both)
One downside to drinking oats is the lack of oral processing the act of chewing. Unlike solid food, drinking oats can cause some people to miss the “I’m eating” signal that chewing provides. This can result in quicker consumption without feeling full, which is a common issue noted in the drinking oats vs eating oats study. The brain may not register that you’re eating, leaving you unsatisfied even though your body is absorbing nutrients.
To combat this, consider making a “chewable smoothie”. Instead of blending the oats into a completely smooth liquid, pulse the blender to leave some chunks of oats or add ingredients like chia seeds or cacao nibs. This forces you to chew, engaging the Cephalic Phase (brain signaling) and the Viscosity Phase (stomach signaling) at the same time, which boosts satiety.
This hybrid approach combines the benefits of both drinking and eating oats, helping you feel full and satisfied for longer. The drinking oats vs eating oats study suggests that this method could provide the best of both worlds: the smooth, easily digestible liquid with the satisfying fullness of solid food.
Use our Oatzempic with Chia Seeds Recipe for the ultimate satiety stack.
FAQs About Drinking Oats vs Eating Oats
Why do some doctors say not to eat oatmeal?
Some doctors advise against eating oatmeal daily due to concerns over the high glycemic index of cooked oats, which can cause blood sugar spikes. However, this can be mitigated by choosing raw oats or blending them into a thicker drink, as the drinking oats vs eating oats study shows that raw oats have a lower glycemic response than cooked oats.
Is drinking oat milk equivalent to eating oatmeal?
No, drinking oat milk is not the same as eating oatmeal. While oat milk contains some of the nutrients found in oats, it typically lacks the fiber content that makes oatmeal filling. In contrast, drinking a liquid form of whole oats, as explained in the drinking oats vs eating oats study, retains more of the fiber and offers a more satisfying, filling option.
Is drinking oats good?
Yes, drinking oats can be good for you, especially when blended into a thick consistency. As highlighted in the drinking oats vs eating oats study, the viscosity of the drink can mimic the effects of eating a solid meal, providing satiety and steady energy without a quick insulin spike.
What if you start eating oats every day for 30 days?
Eating oats every day for 30 days can lead to numerous benefits, such as improved digestion, stable energy levels, and potentially weight loss. However, the results may vary depending on whether you’re eating cooked or raw oats. The drinking oats vs eating oats study suggests that blending oats into a drink may have unique advantages over eating them in traditional forms, especially for blood sugar control.
Conclusion: It’s Not Juice, It’s Gel
After examining the drinking oats vs eating oats study, it’s clear that drinking oats is not the same as consuming traditional liquid calories. Unlike juice or sugary drinks, which pass quickly through the stomach, drinking oats creates a liquid fiber matrix that behaves more like a solid meal in your stomach. The viscosity factor plays a critical role in making liquid oats as satiating as, if not more than, solid oatmeal.
Don’t rush through your oat-based drinks. Sip them slowly, chew when possible, and let the gel-like texture work its magic. Start your 30-Day Oatzempic Challenge today, and see how drinking oats can fit into your routine to help you feel full, satisfied, and energized throughout the day.
