Oat bran and oat flakes are nutrient-dense and versatile. Oat bran comes from the whole grain, flakes only from the oat grain. Both contain lots of nutrients and fiber.
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How good are oatmeal and oat bran for digestion?
Both oat products contain a lot of fiber and have a positive effect on digestion. With oat bran, this effect is slightly stronger due to the higher fiber content.
Fiber has a positive effect on digestion, blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. When combined with water, fiber swells and increases the volume in the stomach and intestines. This ensures a longer-lasting feeling of satiety.
Adequate fiber intake is important. Adults are recommended to consume at least 30 grams of fiber per day.
If you want to increase the fiber content in your diet, you should do so gradually and with sufficient fluid intake. This way the body can slowly get used to it and there will be no digestive problems.
You should make sure to drink enough, especially with oat bran. The high fiber content binds fluid and can otherwise lead to constipation.
Prepare oat flakes and oat bran
In the kitchen, oat flakes and oat bran are used in various dishes. In some cases they can also be used in a similar way.
- Oatmeal can be used in muesli, porridge, bread and pastries. They are also used in breadings, minced meat dishes and casseroles.
- Hearty oat flakes provide more bite, while delicate flakes change the texture of dishes less. Soluble oatmeal helps enrich dishes with carbohydrates and calories.
- Oat bran is coarser and tastes nuttier than oatmeal. It can be found commercially in the form of coarse semolina or soluble flakes.
- Bran is used in porridge and muesli, pastries, desserts and sweets, but also in savory dishes such as patties.
- Bran can be used to add fiber to recipes. Care should be taken to ensure adequate fluid intake.
The original for this post Oat bran vs oat flakes: nutritional values and effects comes from FOCUS Online and was written by Noa Christina Poetter.
