When you pick a healthy hot cereal over a pre-packaged cold cereal, you not only warm up your morning, you also gain health benefits that last a lifetime. Oatmeal, recently discovered as the cholesterol buster has its roots in Scotland. This early reference is why we associate the oatmeal grain with hot cereals. Oatmeal is slowly digested and high in complex carbohydrates, which makes it an ideal food choice for diabetics. Even with all this good news, only one in five families eat this heart healthy grain. Those that do, usually go for the pre-sweetened, chemical-containing single serving packs. These may lower your LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, but you'll be consuming too much sugar and less of the good stuff that actually sweeps your arteries clean.

Oats are not the only heart healthy powerhouse. Other whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat or corn-based hot breakfast cereals can also deliver their health benefits as well. Brown rice based cereals are composed of processed rice, cooked like oatmeal. Choose a whole grain brown rice, and the resulting product is much like cream of wheat, but without the wheat. This is a great option for those who have a wheat allergy. Brown rice has tons of fiber and is also high in several minerals, including magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. Whole grain brown rice cereals are found in your local health food store, or in the health food section of your grocery. Whole wheat cereals also have tons of fiber and are a good choice for those wanting to try something new.