Which is Healthiest Oat Bran Cereal or Wheat Bran Cereal?

Your doctor will tell you that getting enough fiber in your diet is important for digestive health, and for other reasons.  There are two main contenders for the fiber crown – wheat bran vs. oat bran.  Which is better for you, though, and why?

While both of these cereal options are high in fiber, the types of fiber they contain are different.  For instance, wheat bran cereal is high in insoluble fiber, while oat bran is high in soluble fiber.  Wheat bran will pass through your system undigested, while oat bran forms a gel in your digestive system.

Both of these cereal types are important for keeping your bowels and the rest of your digestive system healthy.  They can help you avoid problems like hemorrhoids, as well as problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

However, oat bran has a few other benefits not found with wheat bran cereal.  For instance, oat bran actually helps you lower bad cholesterol.  In addition, wheat bran cereal can cause problems.  Wheat allergies can definitely make consuming this cereal problematic, but even those who are not allergic to wheat can have issues here.

Wheat bran cereal, if introduced in sufficient amounts to the body, can cause issues like diarrhea, gas, intestinal blockage and even other issues.  Oat bran cereal does not have this problem, and plays an important role in maintaining blood sugar, as well.

Of course, you need to be aware of how much bran is actually in your cereal.  Make sure that you check the actual fiber content of cereal, and never simply take a manufacturer’s word for it.