Beta glucan

A new variety of oat is promising to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The Kowari plant has been developed over 14 years as part of the National Oat Breeding program.

Peter Appleford from the South Australian Research and Development Institute said the oats are high in beta-glucan, which helps lower cholesterol levels.

“The more (beta-glucan) you can get in the morning, out of your daily porridge or bowl of oats, then the less reliant you might be on other forms of medication,” Mr Appleford told 9NEWS.

The new variety is also good news for grain growers, because the plants produce strong yields and can be grown across Australia.

“We've got production crops in Western Australia, and in New South Wales, and Victoria,' Steve Amery from Heritage Seeds said.

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