Oatmeal has long been known to help lower “bad” cholesterol—the LDL variety—but new research has found that it may have other benefits for your health. A study in the January/February edition of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine has confirmed previous findings that soluble fiber from whole oats (when eaten as a part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol) can help reduce a person’s risk of heart disease.

However, the study also includes recent data that show that oats can help improve a person’s LDL cholesterol profile by curbing smaller LDL particles, which may cause a greater risk to a person’s health than larger ones. What’s more, antioxidants in oats have anti-inflammatory properties, and whole-grains may help prevent high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and weight gain.