Bran: Using the Right Products
@Masihi (4413)
Canada
July 6, 2011 10:15am CST
It seems pretty good to get a bran muffin at a coffee shop, or buy a bran muffin mix at the local supermarket, but ..... just how healthy is it? Seriously? I'm sort of wondering of this whole bran issue myself, as I've started using the All-Bran products form Kelloggs. I've read the ingredients of the box and it says it uses Whole Wheat flour in their bran products as it's got more fibre, and healthier in general than white flour. Kelloggs also have Raisin Bran but they add sugar to that cereal, and the raisins are dusted with icing sugar, so I don't get that at all. Bran muffins from bakeries and coffee shops are probably full of saturated fats and refined sugar, so I'm sort of undecided on that, even though they're probably more healthier than chocolate chip or other white muffins.
I'm thinking to making my own bran products - true bran, nothing added bran - as I've been having trouble going to the loo ever since I went on my Going Sugarless diet. For the past five days I've been consuming All-Bran bran flakes and I finally found relief that way, so that's why I want to incorporate bran products (without all that crazy preservatives crap) into my diet, aside from the bran flakes I'm eating in the morning.
Looking for idea from true bran product lovers :-p hehe
1 person likes this
6 responses
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Fresh peaches do the trick as well, better than any other fruit in my opinion. You can use bran flakes, then add your own raisins to save on the sugar content. That is what is recommended. Bran buds are good added to baked goods. In general, everything I bake gets an addition of flax seed meal or wheat germ or both. I guess I am a believer in fiber, but in a variety of fiber, like whole grain oatmeal as well. You are so right to assume that bran muffins produces commercially are like land mines of sugar and fat, otherwise people would not buy them. In regards to your problem, I found that about four prunes, covered with water and then microwaved before eating them is effective. So is a fiber product by Metamucil called Clearly Natural, I believe. It has as its only ingredient inulin, which helps to stabilize blood sugar while doing the other nice fiber things like filling us up and making us go. Personally I have tried psyllium products and have found that they seem to make me worse.
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
7 Jul 11
Hmmm...bran buds in baked goods....I'll have to look up some recipes :-) I know cinnamon helps with blood sugar.
I purchase the quick oats from Quaker Oats, would that be the whole grain stuff? It's not the packaged instant flavoured singles that we buy in little boxes, the kind I buy are in big bags and are unflavoured.
Well, I'm certainly learning lots from you guys, lots of good starting points for me to research on. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
7 Jul 11
Quick oats is what I can get at Sam's. There are some that are less processed, but these unsweetened ones are great. The little sweetened packets in boxes have been pulverized to the point that they have no fiber value to speak of.
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@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
6 Jul 11
Wow, we must be telepathic! No word of a lie I've been having problems going to the loo as well and I put it down to eating Kellogg's Corn Flakes. On our recent shopping expedition John picked up some Kellogg's All Bran instead and the problem I had isn't there anymore, if you get my drift lol.
I know what you mean about the cereals that add other things. I can't understand why they have to do this..make it all sugary so the kids will eat it? Doesn't make sense does it? They do the same with Kellogg's Special K as well not that I can afford that, it's extortionate.
Next time I go to Blackpool I shall make a point of perusing a really good shop (bit like a Health Food Shop but it has stuff I like lol) that's on one of those..estates, or whatever they're called. In the past I've not taken any notice of what's in there but I shall next time and probably pick up something much healthier than the Kellogg's version
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Bob's Red Mill products are great, and can be ordered online, I think.
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@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
20 Jul 11
It depends on what all they've added to the bran muffins at the coffee shops as to whether they really are the healthiest choice.
As for making your own treats, there are a lot of recipes out there. Allrecipes.com has a Blueberry Bran Muffin recipe that sounds good (and blueberries are excellent for you). Food Network has a Chunky Banana Bran Muffins recipe that sounds really good, too.
Then, of course, there are cookies, pancakes and even muffins that incorporate bran.
However, bran isn't a miracle food. It is good for its fiber content and for folic acid, but eating an overall balanced diet is important.
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
20 Jul 11
Actually I'm simply looking for variety as opposed to just consuming one bran product only, since I like a variety in my diet. I do need bran for my bowels, and I've been eating lots of fresh produce, nuts, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats.
@marguicha (230351)
• Chile
17 Jul 11
You can mke your own productts and I bet they will be better for you, if you check up a bit online before making so the quantilies will be alright for your intestine´s needs.
The products with fancy names usually have more sugar or they add other things you would not want to eat. The last time I went to the super, it took me a long time to buy something with just fiber. All the other products with lovelier packages had things I cannot eat now.
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@marguicha (230351)
• Chile
19 Jul 11
I just made oatmeal cookies and couldn´t be easier. I bought normal quaker oats and used Splenda instead of sugar and sunflower oil instead of butter. I put 1 whole eggs and 2 whites instead of 2 whole eggs. Added diced raw apples to put less sugar. YUMMY!!!
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
17 Jul 11
Yes, I do plan on purchasing raw bran to make bran muffins, I've shopped around checking out pricing and such. I like a little variety :-)
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
7 Jul 11
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@petersum (4522)
• United States
6 Jul 11
Bran, as you already know, is mostly eaten for it's high fiber content. Everyone needs fiber or we get the toilet problems if we don't have enough. But you can get the opposite toilet problem if you have too much. It's a matter of balance, as with all eating habits.
Bran is not the only source of fiber by any means. Indeed some people do not like the taste of it at all. I don't really like Kelloggs bran products. Personally I prefer to eat digestive biscuits. I have a sweet tooth - well actually, not very many of them!
1 person likes this
@Masihi (4413)
• Canada
6 Jul 11
I do know that too much of anything isn't good at all, but I'd like to have a good alternative rather than eating junk at a coffee shop. I know the all-bran products aren't very sweet, which is good for me, as I've gave up refined sugars (or most, as much as I can, anyway), as I find most other cereals are very sweet, much sweeter than I remember them to be. I also carry fresh fruits, dried fruit/nut/sunflower seed mixes for energy and protein when I'm out biking or walking, plus water.
@marguicha (230351)
• Chile
17 Jul 11
I just bought oats and I´ll make my own cookies as I cannot eat store bought ones. I´ll make ones with apples includes (to eat at first) and regular to keep in a sealed box. As for muffins, there´s nothing easier than making muffins and you can do them with no sugar. Besides, food made from scratch is a lot cheaper.
