Holland & Barrett
Cereal is a member of the grass family which is grown, or cultivated, for its grain.
Grains of cereal provide more energy than any other type of crop, which is why they make great ingredients for breakfast cereal and other foods.
Cereals are a great source of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, oils and protein.
Cereals include wheat bran, perfect for baking and cooking, oat bran which can be used for making porridge, and soya bran which is a great base for breakfast cereals.
These cereals are all natural in their whole grain, unprocessed form.
What is wheat bran?
Wheat bran is a common ingredient in breakfast cereals due to its sweet, nutty flavour and its high nutritional value.
Wheat bran is the hard exterior husk of the wheat kernel which is separated from the other parts of the kernel, the germ and the endosperm, when it is milled.
Is wheat bran good for you?
Wheat bran is high in fibre
Wheat bran is very high in fibre (slightly higher than the closely related oat bran) which helps to promote digestive health by reducing the symptoms of bloating and supporting normal bowel function.
Wheat bran is an excellent choice as an addition to your breakfast which will see you through until lunch time. No need to reach for the snacks! As well as this, it can support the gut microbiome.
So in short, yes – wheat bran is good for you! And so are the other cereals. Many of them are high in fibre whilst also being low in fat, salts and sugars.
How to eat wheat bran
There are lots of different ways that you can easily add wheat bran to your balanced diet.
Start your day the right way by sprinkling it on top of warm porridge or over your cereal or granola. Or try topping smoothies and yogurts with it.
You can also make waffles or pancakes with wheat bran for an alternative breakfast or brunch.
For lunch or dinner, try adding wheat bran to soups or casseroles when cooking. Or to your bread recipe when baking. You can also use wheat bran with breadcrumbs as a coating for fish or meat.
Because wheat bran is very high in fibre, you don’t need to eat too much of it. Twenty or 25 grams of wheat bran per day as part of a balanced diet is plenty.
Which products contain cereals?
As well as buying wheat bran and oat bran, you can also buy breakfast cereals which already contain them – an even easier way to add more fibre to your diet!
There are healthy breakfast cereals to suit every taste. OatWell Crispy Hearts, Gluten Free Corn Flakes and Original Recipe Museli Crunchy Bran are ready made breakfast cereals. Simply pour your choice or milk over them, or add yogurt, to enjoy a delicious, nutritious breakfast.
For an on-the-go snack, Rude Health Rye Oaty are perfect. Made from Scottish oatmeal and rye flour, these are great for popping in your bag or even your children’s lunchboxes for a healthier alternative to most biscuits and crisps.
Are cereals suitable for a restrictive diet?
Oat bran, barley flakes, rye flakes, millet grain are all natural products grown from plants and so are suitable for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Unfortunately, most cereals contain gluten and so are not suitable for a gluten free diet.
However, organic millet grain is a great gluten-free alternative to other cereals. It can be used in cereal, soups or in dense wholegrain bread.