Bran
Bran has a bad reputation. The word brings to mind moms forcing kids to eat cardboard-like breakfast cereal, and people self-imposing that same boring cereal on themselves in order to lose weight - Magdalena Slapik
HWN Suggests
How bran benefits your health?
Many people may not know much about bran although they have had it many times. Bran is the outer layer of cereal grains, such as wheat, rice, or corn. It is removed during the refining process to make white flour, white rice, and cornmeal. Being removed does not mean it is a waste. Bran is actually a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and is often added back to processed grains to increase their nutritional value. It is also used as a food ingredient and dietary supplement. Bran contains important nutrients such as vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, and phytochemicals, which are beneficial for health. Incorporating various types of bran into your diet is a good way to stay healthy.Articles of Interest
Are Bran Flakes Healthy?
Bran is a fantastic source of fibre if you want to get the metabolism started first thing in the morning. It’s also mighty tasty and can be given a whole host of toppings to make it, you know, not boring. However, it pays to have your eyes peeled when you walk down the breakfast aisle, as not all bran flakes are as they seem…
Bran is good, Big Bran is better. A rice with bigger bran for multiple micronutrients
Rice grains have a thin outer layer called the bran, which is usually composed of one cell layer. The bran accounts for 10 per cent of the grain, but it provides us with 70 per cent of its nutrients. So, if bran is good, a big bran is better. We call this “the Big Bran Theory”. After significant work, our research showed we were able to increase the thickness of the rice bran layer from one to six cell layers. Just like building a stronger wall to protect our body, this bigger bran gives you...
Bran – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts
You can find bran on the outside of rice, oats, wheat and maize grains, among many others. This layer is present in all grains that are considered "whole," but it is removed during processing or refining. It's often removed by producers in pursuit of a smoother, milder flavour because of its grainy texture and dry, nutty undertones. Additionally, so-called "stripped" grains are often more digestible, although typically having fewer nutrients. Bran, the edible seed's skin, is a rich source of insoluble fibre; nevertheless, both bran and the germ, the seed embryo beneath it, contain a great deal of fatty acids and quickly go rancid if exposed to air. To increase the longevity of their goods, food manufacturers frequently mill raw seeds to remove the bran and germ. Some of the lost nutrients may be restored, and the resulting products may be labelled as "enriched." However, processed products can never compete with whole grain products when it comes to health advantages.
Breakfast At Your Desk: Raisin Bran Is Loaded With Antioxidants--Who Knew?
When you think of antioxidants, what comes to mind? Red wine, vegetables, and berries, right? Add raisin bran to the list, say experts. The cereal tops a new list of antioxidant-rich foods--and it just happens to be my favorite. Read on for the details, and the brand that I think is the absolute best tasting raisin bran ever. Period. End of story.
Incredible Health Benefits of Wheat Bran : What you need to Know
When we think of wheat, our minds often conjure up images of freshly baked bread or delicious pasta. However, there’s a lesser-known gem hidden within the wheat kernel that deserves our attention: wheat bran Often overlooked, wheat bran is the outer layer of the wheat kernel that is removed during the milling process to produce refined flour. But what if we tell you that wheat bran benefits as a nutritional powerhouse that can significantly enhance your overall health and well-being?
Medicine: Bran Booster
There is no doubt as evidenced from practical experience that many such individuals who find themselves to have irregular and inadequate bowel movements can secure more regular and more satisfactory evacuations by the use of bran in their diet.
My Ode to Oat Bran!
Ounce for ounce, oat bran is higher in fiber, protein, most B vitamins, healthy fats, iron, and many other vitamins and minerals when compared to old fashioned rolled oats. Personally, I like the texture better since it is finer and more like a cream of wheat consistency (which basically has no nutritional value!). Oat bran is also super cheap, especially if you buy it in bulk. You will be saving lots of money by subbing cereal boxes for the oat bran, and may save even more money by potentially lowering the dose of your cholesterol meds (or preventing the need to go on them!).
Oat and wheat bran: their benefits
Oat bran, known for its effectiveness in regulating intestinal transit, is much more than just an ingredient. It contains 16.7g of fiber per 100g, which is half of the recommended daily fiber intake. This fiber richness even exceeds well-known foods like wheat germ or green lentils.
Rebranding bran: teaching nutrient-rich cooking in Mali
A Malian project to teach mothers about nutrition and encourage them to cook with wholegrain cereal is improving child health and freeing up women’s time
The All-Bran Diet
There is a growing body of research that shows that eating whole grains, with the bran and germ still intact, over processed grains improves health in many ways ...
The effects of dietary fibers from rice bran and wheat bran on gut microbiota: An overview
It has been demonstrated that whole grain consumption is an ideal diet with many gut health-promoting benefits. The physicochemical properties of DFs from rice bran and wheat bran, such as particle size, molecular weight, branch degree, monosaccharide and linkage composition, solubility, viscosity, and hydration properties, have a close relationship with their digestive behaviors.
The miracle of bran and its properties on human health
Nowadays, the beneficial effects of dietary fibers on human health have been proven, which include the reduction of cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, blood cholesterol and cancer prevention. Also, the use of dietary fibers in weight loss diets has been given much attention. Cereal bran is a rich source of fibers. In addition to fiber sources, cereal bran contains proteins with high quality nutritional value (albumin and globulin), antioxidants and bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, phytosterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols and folates.
What is bran? Here's why nutrition experts want you to eat more.
Bran is one of those terms that you may see pop up in the cereal aisle — Fiber One or Raisin Bran for breakfast, anyone? But you may not actually know what it means, or why those in medical fields suggest you incorporate more of it into your diet.
Wheat Germ Vs. Wheat Bran - The Differences You Need To Know
Wheat bran is the outer layer or shell of the wheat kernel removed during milling, making up about 14% of the whole grain's composition. The wheat germ is the heart (or embryo) of the wheat kernel that grows into a new wheat plant. It is the smallest part, making up only about 3% of the grain's composition.
When I work late, I often eat two bowls of bran cereal for dinner. This is healthy, right?
It depends on the cereal. Some brands seem virtuous but are loaded with sugar; eat 2 cups of Total Raisin Bran, for instance, and you'll spoon up nearly 40 grams of the sweet stuff (10 teaspoons' worth!). Be sure to choose a cereal with no more than 120 calories and 6 grams of sugar, and at least 3 grams of fiber, per serving, such as Health Valley Organic Oat Bran Flakes, Kashi Heart to Heart or Barbara's Puffins or Multigrain Shredded Spoonfuls.
When it comes to fiber, cereal fiber may be your best choice
In this study, fiber was the hero. But it wasn’t just any fiber—it was “cereal fiber,” the kind you expect to find in a box of cereal. Among nearly 400,000 people who took part in the study, those who ate the most fiber (29 grams per day for men and 26 grams per day for women) over a nine-year period were 22% less likely to die from any cause than people who ate the least fiber (13 grams per day for men and 11 grams per day for women).
Which bran is best – wheat bran or oat bran?
All types of bran are concentrated sources of fibre, being the outer fibrous layers of a grain. They are all useful but act in different ways in the body. Here's how I see their differences and which one is best for what.
Why Bran Is Bad for IBS
It’s not clear why bran seems to make symptoms worse for some people with IBS, but researchers have some theories...
Resources
3 reasons to eat more wheat bran
Wheat bran is a wonderfully healthy food that packs a nutritious punch of goodness. Not only does it offer an extraordinary fibre boost, but it helps promote regular blood pressure too. It is also known for supporting the immune system and for adding a few much needed vitamins and minerals to our diets.

