Are you in search of good breakfast cereal? What about raisin bran cereal? Are you curious to know, Is raisin bran healthy? Well, a lot of people want to know about how healthy raisin bran is? Breakfast cereals are very common among children as well as the elderly people as it is a quick fix when it comes to eating something in breakfast as quickly as possible, especially for those who are students or for the busy people doing 9 to 5 jobs.
But, do you think we should keep on eating something just because we can prepare it in a short time? Don’t you think we should be well aware of nutritional facts and the healthiness of anything that we eat? Of course, we should be knowing all that. So, the article is going to tell you everything about raisin bran cereal. Is it healthy or not? Whether it is good for diabetics or not? What about those women who are pregnant? And is it heart-healthy? You will get to know all these things about raisin bran through this article.
Table of Content
Is Raisin Bran Healthy for You?
Is raisin bran cereal healthy? Is raisin bran crunch good for you? These are the questions that most health-conscious people ask. Well, when it comes to the analysis of how healthy raisin bran is, we must look for the ingredients that make this cereal.
Do the added ingredients make this cereal comparable to lucky charm, cocoa puffs, and cinnamon toast crunch. Let’s take a look at ingredients to determine the healthiness of raisin bran.
Whole Grain Wheat
Whole grain wheat here means that the entire kernel is ground to produce a powder. This is important because the kernel provides nutrients and is a good source of fiber. And this fiber content makes the raisin bran cereal healthy.
Raisins
Raisins are just dehydrated grapes. Apart from adding natural sweeteners through raisin bran, these raisin brans are rich in vitamins, fiber, and minerals. They add a sweet and nutty flavor to the cereal.
Wheat Bran
Wheat bran is actually what’s left of wheat when the germ and endosperm are separated. Bran is an excellent source of fiber. So, again it is good for health.
Sugar
One cup of raisin bran has 18 grams of sugar. About half the daily recommended intake in just a single cup and that is something to consider. It is too much sugar for one cup, which is not good for health. Also, raisins contain natural sugar that can spike blood sugar levels. In addition to that, it also contains brown sugar syrup, so the sugar content makes raisin bran unhealthy.
Salt
There are about 210 milligrams per cup of salt in raisin bran. It is only about 10 percent of the daily recommended intake but is still high for those having high blood pressure problems.
Vitamins And Minerals
Raisin bran contains the following vitamins and minerals that are good for overall health.
- Potassium chloride is used in the replacement of salt and is generally regarded as safe.
- Niacinamide or Vitamin B3 helps to manage cholesterol levels and is widely known to improve skin function.
- Reduced iron is the iron that can be used in our body to make hemoglobin and myoglobin that provide oxygen to our whole body.
- Vitamin B6 contributes to brain health and aids in creating protein to carry oxygen around your body.
- Zinc oxide is a mineral used in breakfast cereal. It adds to the nutritional value of ingredients and is regarded as safe by the FDA.
- Riboflavin or Vitamin B2 helps the body convert food into glucose for energy. It is good for your health.
- Thiamine hydrochloride or vitamin B1 helps to break down carbohydrates and turn them into energy.
- Vitamin A palmitate which derives from animal products helps maintain healthy eyesight and skin functions.
- Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps in maintaining and producing new cells. It is perfectly healthy for you.
- Vitamin D3 aids in the absorption of calcium which complements milk that you add to raisin bran and vitamin B12 helps with red blood cell formation and increased plasma levels.
So, overall what makes raisin bran healthy is the amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that it has. But you should always keep in mind to take it in moderate amounts because added sugar and salt make it unhealthy if you eat it in bulk.
Is Raisin Bran Cereal Good for Diabetes?
Is raisin bran healthy for diabetics? Is raisin bran high in sugar? Is raisin bran good for diabetes? Raisins bran is a good source of nutrients and fiber. It is healthy for diabetics if the added sugar is low in quantity.
Also, diabetics can eat raisins too in moderation. It doesn’t mean that they can eat the whole box. It means that they should eat a small number of raisins that do not raise their blood sugar levels.
Is Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Good for Diabetes?
A lot of people ask, Is Kellogg’s raisin bran healthy? Is it good for diabetics? So, Kellogg’s raisin bran is very high in added sugar. It has 31 grams of sugar per serving that can spike blood sugar levels quickly.
Although Kellogg’s raisin bran is a good source of nutrients, high added sugar and processing make it unhealthy for diabetics. It also contains a high amount of carbs, which ultimately raise blood sugar levels. But as different people respond differently to the amount of sugar in food, it is better to consult your doctor before adding any breakfast cereal to your diet.
However, here are some healthy cereal alternatives for diabetics.
- Corn flakes
- Grape nuts
- Cream of wheat
- Muesli
- Oatmeal
- Wheat bran based cereal
Is Raisin Bran Good for Weight Loss?
Is eating raisin bran healthy for weight loss? Is a bowl of raisin bran healthy for weight loss? The good news is that bran is perfect for weight loss as it contains a lot of fiber that helps in weight loss. Fiber has satiating effects that keep you feeling full for longer and so, you can lose more weight. Also, the small number of raisins can be a good natural sugar rather than added sugar.
Bran also contains phytic acid that prevents nutrient absorption in the form of fat, and so doesn’t make you bulky. Low-calorie and high-fiber bran flakes are especially effective for weight loss. But if you want to lose weight, your bran cereal should not be high in sugar and sodium. Kellogg’s raisin bran is not good for weight loss for the same reason.
Although Kellogg’s raisin bran is high in fiber, it has more sugar than makes it unhealthy for weight loss. If you want to eat bran cereal to lose weight, Fiber One is a good choice. It’s because it is low in sugar and a half-cup serving contains 60 calories and 14 grams of fiber. That is 57 percent of your recommended daily amount for fiber.
Also, people ask, is raisin bran healthy for bodybuilding? The answer is no because it has a very low quantity of protein that is majorly required for bodybuilding. Moreover, it is high in carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium that are not good for building muscles.
Is Raisin Bran Good for Your Heart?
Is raisin bran good for high cholesterol? Is it heart-healthy? Raisin bran is good for the heart and overall health. The excellent fiber content makes it good for lowering cholesterol. But the thing is if it is not high in added sugar and sodium.
Although Kellogg’s raisin bran brand claims to be heart-healthy, it is not healthy for those with diabetes and high blood pressure problems. For those with issues of hypertension, the high sodium intake can raise the blood pressure level that can ultimately cause a stroke. So, choose oatmeal and other cereals that are low in sugar and sodium. Those cereals are good for the heart and for maintaining cholesterol.
Is Raisin Bran Healthy During Pregnancy?
Most women face the problem of constipation during pregnancy. Raisin bran is especially good for them as it has a high amount of fiber that relieves constipation and improves your bowel movements. So, raisin bran is perfectly healthy during pregnancy provided that the pregnant woman is not diabetic or is not having issues of high blood pressure.
Some Healthy Raisin Bran Cereals
Many packaged bowls of cereal are high in sugar and are not considered good for health as they are processed and have a light artificial flavor. But some of them are still healthy as they have low sugar content and their high fiber content makes them good for health. Here are some reviews about packaged cereals.
Is 365 Raisin Bran Healthy?
365 raisin bran is considered healthy because of its high fiber content. Although it is high in carbs, the plus point is good fiber content. It is good to eat in moderation.
Is Trader Joe’s Raisin Bran Healthy?
Trader Joe’s raisin bran is healthy because it has less fat and less sugar in it. It has 5 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber and is considered a healthy breakfast cereal.
Is Millville Raisin Bran Healthy?
Millville raisin bran is a fortified cereal that can be a good source of vitamins and minerals but it is not considered healthy as it is highly processed and has a lot of salt and sugar.
Is Raisin Bran a Healthier Cereal Than Cheerios?
Yes, raisin bran is healthier than cheerios as it has high fiber content compared to cheerios.
The Bottom Line
Breakfast cereals are healthy to eat but we should be well aware of their ingredients. That is the reason people ask, Is raisin bran healthy? Raisin bran is a great tasting cereal and does have a lot of vitamins and minerals, however, it has the same or more sugar than all other cereals which are considered sugary cereals like Lucky charm, cocoa butter, and cinnamon toast crunch. So you should find alternatives to raisin bran with low sugar content.
FAQs
Is raisin bran good for you?
Raisin bran is a good source of vitamins and minerals that are important to keep your body healthy and active. It is a good blend of micronutrients as well as macronutrients but you should always check for the sugar content on the label.
Which is healthier, Cheerios or raisin bran?
Raisin bran is healthier than cheerios as it contains whole wheat and wheat bran that is very high in fiber. The good fiber content makes it satiating and healthy for weight loss.
What is the healthiest cereal to eat?
Oatmeal is the healthiest cereal to eat, especially when it is homemade. It is equally good for diabetics, heart patients, and those who want to lose weight.
What is the healthiest raisin bran cereal?
Cascadian Farm organic Raisin Bran is a healthy cereal as it has 6 grams of fiber and 13 grams of sugar per serving. Another healthy cereal brand is Erewhon Raisin Bran that has 6-gram fiber and 10-gram sugar per serving.
