Oats

Annual, light green plant from the sweet grass family (Poaceae) that grows up to 1.20 m tall. At the end of the stalk with the 15 to 30 cm long, loose panicles with mostly horizontally protruding branches hang 2 to 3 cm long spikes.

In medicine, dried oat fruits (Avenae fructus), which are also used as food, oat bran to lower cholesterol, as well as "oat straw"(Avenae stramentum) or oat herb(Avenae herba) are used.

Oats are cultivated worldwide as a food and feed crop. Oats are mainly used as food in the form of oat flakes.

The grains do not stand in ears like other cereals, but hang in panicles.

Allergologically, oat pollen (see pollen below) plays only a minor role, as the plant is a self-pollinator and no significant pollen flight occurs. Cross-reaction against grass pollen.

Oatmeal has only a small amount ofgluten. The flour is therefore only of limited use in the production of bread. Oatmeal can, however, be important in small quantities for a gluten-free diet.

Regarding the cosmetic and allergological significance of oat proteins, see below. oat extracts.