About this episode
Could the secret to a calmer mind and a healthier gut be hiding in your morning bowl of porridge? In this episode, I sit down with Swedish herbalist and nutritionist Karoline Karttunen to discuss one of my favorite breakfasts — the humble oats ( Avena sativa ). Grains have gotten a bad rap in recent years — and it’s true that highly processed or sugar-laden versions don’t do us any favors. But as Karoline reminds us, whole-grain oats are a true nutritional powerhouse that also carry the same medicinal gifts as oat straw and milky oats — beloved herbal allies for nourishing the nervous system and restoring resilience. She shares how oats support everything from balanced blood sugar to a calmer mind (and even a healthier microbiome). Karoline is so devoted to her oats that she eats them for breakfast five days a week! She keeps her daily porridge endlessly interesting by rotating the nuts, seeds, fruits, and herbs that she adds to the mix. You can even try her Herbal and Protein-Rich Oatmeal yourself — download the beautifully illustrated recipe card here . By the end of this episode, you’ll know: ► How a bowl of oats can calm frazzled nerves and lift your mood naturally ► What butyric acid is—and why your intestinal cells can’t get enough of it ► The truth about so-called “anti-nutrients” like phytic acid (and why you might not need to worry about them) ► How your brain and heart thrive on the right kind of carbs—and why oats are the perfect fuel ► How discoveries in archaeology and anthropology challenge the myth that eating grains is “unnatural” for humans ► and plenty more oat-inspired insights to nourish body and mind…. For those of you who don’t know her, Karoline Karttunen is a Swedish herbalist and nutritionist who brings herbs and food together in her herbal courses, blog and in personal consultations. She has in-person courses year round on the west coast of Sweden, as well as offering online courses in herbalism. Karoline’s courses always have a focus on how herbs can strengthen health and be used as a natural part of our everyday life, just as we do with vegetables. I was already a huge fan of oats, but after talking with Karoline, I couldn’t wait to make them an even bigger part of my herbal routine. I’m so happy to share this conversation with you—and I hope you leave feeling inspired to make yourself a big bowl of porridge, too! ---- Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com Would you prefer watching this episode? If so, click here for the video. You can find Karoline at Way-of-Life.se . For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram! Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter . If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it! On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health. Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com . ---- Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients Into Foods & Remedies That Heal and co-author of the bestselling book Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine . She's a registered herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild and teaches many popular online courses. Read about how Rosalee went from having a terminal illness to being a bestselling author in her full story here .