In the 1970s, the pop-rock duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates became one of the best-selling music groups of all time. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014, they still tour today.

Clearly, Oates and his partner were able to maintain their youthful vitality.

You can too if you haul in your own oats — plus barley, rye, and whole wheat — as dietary partners.

That's because eating 100 percent steel-cut oats, barley (with half the calories of oats, more fiber, and twice the protein), rye (boosts weight loss by making you feel full longer), and 100 percent whole wheat helps keep your LDL cholesterol at a healthy level, your arteries clear of plaque, and your bones strong.

How do oats and barley (and the other guys) work their magic?

Some say because they're prebiotics, providing nourishment for health-promoting gut bacteria.

Others suggest that they help you excrete bile salts and cholesterol esters.

And barley, in particular, has been cited as a great source of fiber, good for clearing out bad LDL cholesterol

That’s especially important if you have diabetes, which increases your risk for cardiovascular problems.

These whole grains are great as unadulterated side dishes and in certain breads, flatbreads, cereals, and noodles (read the labels).