Celebrating Heart Health Month with Oatmeal

February is Heart Health Month
In celebration of heart health month, Diane Collins, R.D. and Dining Services served oatmeal muffins to residents while presenting the nutritional benefits of Oats.  Not only are oats a nutritional powerhouse when consumed, they also possess benefits to your skin when used topically in a paste or powder. Oats have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.  They are suitable for all skin types and can be used to treat skin discomforts such as chicken pox, shingles or poison ivy.  The Independent Residents were provided the recipe below enabling them to make their own oatmeal sachet to help relieve their dry winter skin.  Oatmeal is a natural remedy to lock in the body’s moisture, protecting the skin and soothing away itchy irritations of the skin.


Oatmeal Bath Sachet
Ingredients:
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of powder buttermilk
Optional:  lavender buds, or a few drops of your favorite essential oils
2- 6 inch square muslin cloth

Directions:   Place oatmeal in a blender and blend till it is in powder form. In a bowl, mix the powdered oatmeal and the buttermilk.  Stir till blended.  Place the muslin cloth flat and place ¾ cup of the oatmeal/ buttermilk mixture on the center of the cloth.  Add scents if desired.  Pull from the outside corners of the cloth until they meet and tie with a rubber band. Tie decorated ribbon around the rubber band.  Place sachet under running water bath or use in a hand or foot soak bath.   Makes 2 sachet.