CEREALS
Oat (Avena)
The oat (Avena), sometimes called the common oat, is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name. Oats are a nutrient-rich food associated with lower blood cholesterol when consumed regularly. Oats are an annual plant, and can be planted either in autumn or in the spring. The annual production of oat is about 200 thousand tons which is grown in Marmara, Aegean and Central Anatolian regions of Turkey. Oats have numerous uses in foods; most commonly, they are rolled or crushed into oatmeal, or ground into fine oat flour. Oatmeal is chiefly eaten as porridge, but may also be used in a variety of baked goods, such as oatcakes, oatmeal cookies and oat bread. Oats are also an ingredient in many cold cereals, in particular muesli and granola. Oats are also commonly used as feed for horses when extra carbohydrates and the subsequent boost in energy are required. The oat hull may be crushed for the horse to more easily digest the grain, or may be fed whole.
