What is bran and what is it made from?
Content:
Bran is the natural outer layer of the grain. During processing at the factory, this part is usually separated. However, it contains many beneficial fibers. Therefore, they are still eaten separately. There are many types of this product. Belonging depends on which culture the shell belonged to.
What is bran made from?
Understanding what bran is, answering this question is very simple. The product is a natural hard shell that covers any seed or grain. Essentially, this means that the product can be made from anything. When creating any cereal, it is this part of the plant that remains. Accordingly, the bran can be wheat, rye, oat, and so on.
Oatmeal is especially highly valued. Usually they are added in small quantities to bread - this helps cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of toxins. A logical question may arise: since there is so much benefit in a component, why is it removed during processing? The reason is essentially economic. With a shell, any cereal spoils much faster and becomes difficult to transport and store.
What is contained in 100 grams of bran
The chemical composition of bran may vary slightly depending on what that particular batch is made from. On average, 100 grams of product contains approximately 258 kcal. The energy is distributed as follows:
- 4.25 grams fat.
- 15.55 grams of protein.
- 64.51 grams of carbohydrates.
The serving also contains water and ash - 9.89 and 5.79 grams, respectively. This snack contains vitamins, microelements, and other useful components. Their exact number can be seen in the table.
Component | Content (in mg) | Percentage of Daily Value |
Vitamin E | 1,5 | 10,2 |
Vitamin B1 | 0,5 | 43,6 |
Vitamin B2 | 0,6 | 44,4 |
Vitamin B3 | 13,6 | 84,9 |
Vitamin B4 | 74,4 | 14,9 |
Vitamin B5 | 2,2 | 43,6 |
Vitamin B6 | 1,3 | 100 |
Calcium | 73 | 7,3 |
Iron | 10,6 | 105,7 |
Magnesium | 611 | 152,8 |
Phosphorus | 1013 | 144,7 |
Potassium | 1182 | 25,1 |
Sodium | 2 | 0,2 |
Zinc | 7,3 | 66,1 |
Copper | 1 | 110,9 |
Manganese | 11,5 | 500 |
As you can see in the table, bran contains much more minerals than a person should consume in a day. Therefore, you should not consume this delicacy excessively.
Remember! An excess of nutrients can be just as dangerous for the body as their deficiency.
Types of bran
The main parameter by which bran is distinguished is, of course, the grain from which it was obtained. Based on this, they can be:
- Wheat.
- Rye.
- Rice.
- Corn.
- Oatmeal.
- Amaranthaceae.
- Linen.
However, there are other classifications. For example, the method of processing the bran may be an important parameter. As a result, they will be classified as one of two types:
- Rough. They resemble fairly large granules and do the best job of cleansing the body. In addition, they can have a great effect on blood circulation, especially in the pelvic organs.
- Thin. Outwardly they look smaller. They are recommended to be used for problems with the stomach or intestines. However, they will also be useful for healthy people.Primarily due to the fact that the use of such bran greatly improves the digestibility of other foods.
In some situations, bran is also differentiated by what additives are used with it. But, strictly speaking, this does not characterize the product itself, but the additional components. Therefore, we will not dwell on this topic in more detail.
What is prepared from bran: 10 popular dishes
Eating a dish in its pure form is not so pleasant. Therefore, they are usually used as an ingredient in one of the following dishes:
- Bread. There are many variations of bread with bran and other additives. This makes the bun more nutritious and brings more health benefits. If you really need baked goods in your diet, it is better to opt for this option.
- Bread. Almost the same as bread, but this particular dish is often used as a snack. When losing weight, bread can also be used as a light snack.
- Syrniki. Using bran allows you to prepare this sweet without flour. At the same time, the taste does not suffer one bit. But the extra pounds with such a delicacy will go away much faster.
- Muffins. The basis of sweetness is usually cottage cheese, which is supplemented with bran and other components for taste. The result is a double benefit - the dish removes toxins and provides a lot of useful substances.
- Cookie. This recipe was developed as part of the Dukan Diet. However, many people use it without adhering to the basic prohibitions. The result is delicious food that you can eat without fear of gaining weight.
- Cake. A very simple, but at the same time varied dish. Bran tortillas can be used as a substitute for bread, pita bread or tortillas.Or you can simply add interesting toppings to the preparation and create a completely new dish.
- Vinegar-type dressing. Oddly enough, such a preparation for marinade or salad can also be prepared from bran. You don't have to do anything - the main thing is to let the component brew properly.
- Candies. For sweets that are possible even on a healthy diet, adding bran is not at all necessary. However, they will make the deliciousness more healthy and will not worsen the taste one bit.
- Cutlets. Bran goes best with minced chicken. This makes an excellent dietary dish that is suitable even for children’s diets.
- Sauce. Any sauce after adding such an ingredient will become more useful. This is especially true for fatty fillings, because bran minimizes their harm.
But, in general, you can add such a wonderful component to almost any dish. Although most often the component is, of course, used in desserts.
How to choose quality bran in the store
Before you buy a pack of bran, you should make sure that it is good enough. To do this you need to look at a number of parameters:
- Flour content. The less it is, the better. Excess fast carbohydrates will definitely not add any benefits to your food.
- Presence of husk. This indicator is not so critical for health. But, you must admit, finding small films on your plate is not very pleasant. Therefore, it is better if there is no husk at all, or at least its amount is minimal.
- What they are made of. Taste preferences play a role here. But oat bran is recognized as the healthiest option. They deal best with waste and toxins.
By and large, even this minimum is enough to evaluate the quality of the product.Also, do not forget to look at the composition, nutritional value and, of course, expiration date.
Questions and answers
What is bran eaten with in its pure form?
It is best to mix the component with vegetables and herbs. This way, both benefits and taste will remain at the optimal level. Bran is also often added to salad dressing - even if it is ordinary sour cream. In the end, you can simply sprinkle the granules into the yogurt.
What does the name “bran” mean?
The origin of the word is quite clear and, at the same time, interesting. In essence, the product represents those parts of the grain that were literally chopped off during the production of cereals.