Bran bread: useful properties and contraindications

Since ancient times, there was a special attitude to bread. According to legend, when people were already familiar with cereals, they used to consume chowder from these crops. One day someone spilled liquid food into the oven - that's how the first flatbread was baked. Since then, baked goods have been firmly incorporated into human daily life.

Nowadays, the attitude toward bread has hardly changed. Bread is welcomed by young people, bread with salt is presented to dear guests, it is also put as a provision when going on a long journey. Now on the shelves you can find a wide variety of products made from dough. There are among this splendor and useful types that can have a positive effect on some functions of the body. These include bread with bran.

What bran bread is made of

Bran bread is increasingly preferred by those who look after their health and try to eat the healthiest products. The fact is that ordinary bread is baked from husked flour, which is obtained in the process of special processing. Relatively recently, scientists have proven that it is the husk that carries most of the useful substances. Then, in some varieties of bakery products began to add the same husk, and such bread was not only tasty but also useful.

Flour, water, yeast, salt, sugar, vegetable oil, various additives and, of course, bran, which is a hard grain shell, are used to make these types of bread. Their amount in the dough is usually equal to the amount of flour. The color of the products is rather gray. In some varieties you can find apricots, raisins, various seeds. Such additives not only add useful properties to the bread, but also make its taste very original.

Composition and calories

Different types of bread with bran may differ slightly from each other by additives, the presence of auxiliary ingredients, but as a rule, the main components per 100 grams are as follows:

• proteins - 9 g;
• fats - 3.5 g;
• carbohydrates - 48 g;
• calories - 248 kcal;
• dietary fiber - 4 g;
• ash - 2 g.

The bread is also rich in vitamins and minerals, which include:

• folic acid;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• iron;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• sodium;
• selenium;
• B vitamins;
• vitamin E;
• zinc;
• lipominic acid;
• vitamin C;
• omega-3;
• omega-6.

All these components saturate bread with vitamins and beneficial substances that have a positive effect on human health.

Types of bread with bran

On the shelves of supermarkets there are many varieties of bakery products, which include bran. Which is better? Among the most useful types, experts highlight the following:

1. The whole-grain variety is baked from coarsely ground flour or sprouted wheat seeds. It contains whole grains, which is why it is so called. This kind is suitable for people who are overweight, have heart problems, as well as those with diabetes.
2. Living bread is made with special sourdough from sprouts and whole wheat grain. It is recommended for overweight problems, as well as in the case of avitaminosis.
3. Bio bread is made only from natural ingredients, such as seeds, nuts, carrots, celery, pumpkin and, of course, differently ground flour.
4. The familiar breads are also a subspecies of bran bread. They are obtained by removing moisture from the product. When choosing, you need to carefully read the composition, because often manufacturers use various additives and flavorings that do not carry the stated benefits of such products.

What is useful for bread with bran

General benefits

About the benefits of bran bread products a lot is known. Scientists who have studied the loaves and rolls of these varieties, cited a list of diseases in which the bread gives a positive effect and helps to cope with the disorders of various functions of the body. So, the benefits are as follows:

• normalization of the work of the brain and nervous system;
• Purification from toxins and impurities;
• Normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, cardiovascular system;
• reduction of sugar levels;
• decrease in cholesterol levels;
• Improve the process of hematopoiesis;
• The elimination and prevention of anemia;
• Prevention of diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system;
• prevention of constipation;
• Improvement in diseases of the respiratory organs;
• Improvement of hair, skin and nails;
• improved immunity.

Thus, the benefits of bran bread is invaluable for anyone. Separately, however, we should highlight the "male" and "female" benefits.

For women

Bread products with bran are especially useful for women. In addition to improving the nervous, digestive, and vascular systems of the body, helping to maintain weight and keeping skin young, hair healthy shine, and nail strength, they are rich in fatty acids. These substances help maintain the norms of estrogen in the female body, which, in turn, prevents the appearance of malignant tumors of the breast. That is why every woman, at least for prevention purposes, should introduce bran products into her diet.

For men

The male population of the planet can also not deny themselves the use of this type of bread products, because they influence the formation of male sex hormones and improve potency, and products with caraway will help gentlemen to become very good lovers. So you can have a piece of flavored bread before your date!

When pregnant

The body of a pregnant woman is more susceptible to various diseases and disorders of various systems. Therefore, its support should be strengthened. Bread with bran can be an excellent assistant in the prevention of some dysfunctions of the body of the expectant mother:

• elimination of constipation;
• The normalization of digestive system functions;
• the prevention of hemorrhoids;
• increase hemoglobin;
• a positive effect on the correct process of formation of the neural tube of the fetus;
• improvement of visual acuity.

That is why bran bakery products are recommended for consumption by pregnant women.

When breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, experts recommend at the very beginning to give up this type of bread, because its use in food by a nursing mother can cause flatulence, diarrhea and bloating in the newborn. After a month, you can return the bread to the daily menu, but its volume should not exceed 30 g per day, as the risk of intestinal problems in the baby remains. From the age of six months onwards, the volume can be increased. This will be beneficial to the health of the mother and child, as well as to get rid of extra pounds.

For kids

For small children, bran bread helps to get rid of toxins, normalizes the digestive tract and promotes rapid digestion. But pediatricians prohibit giving baked goods to children under the age of three, as it can have a negative impact on the digestive organs. They are not yet fully formed in a young person, so they can disrupt the defecation process and even cause dehydration. The volume of bran bread eaten per day until the baby is five years old should not exceed 50 grams. But for schoolchildren, it will be very useful, because it improves memory, vision and increases concentration, and this is quite a weighty argument for a student.

When losing weight

As for the weight loss process, nutritionists are divided into two camps on this issue. Some believe that during weight loss it is necessary to give up flour products completely. The opinion of others is based on the benefits of the use of bran bread and therefore allows you to include it in the diet of a thinner. The positive effect that experts note when consuming products of this kind is as follows:

1. Bran bread is quite able to cope with digestive problems that arise during the diet.
2. When giving up most products, the human body lacks some minerals. Bread with bran will help to fill up the level of missing elements.
3. The satiation process is much faster due to the swelling of coarse fibers in the human stomach, which creates a feeling of fullness.
4. Many people are stressed on a diet. Bran flour bread helps the nervous system get back in order.
5. The product speeds up the metabolic process and reduces cholesterol levels.

So, when losing weight, a person can afford to eat bran products. However, we should not forget that the caloric value of bread is high. For 100 g can be from 200 to 400 kcal, depending on the variety. In addition, it is better to buy rye products, as they do not contain gluten - the main "helper" in weight gain.

Bran bread in medicine

Doctors around the world confirm the benefits of products using bran. They highlight the following positive aspects of the influence of bran bread on the human body:

• Strengthening the heart muscle, blood vessels and heart walls;
• increase the body's immune system;
• reducing the risk of disease in men associated with decreased potency;
• Prevention of atherosclerosis;
• Deceleration of aging processes in the body;
• Improvement of digestion;
• normalization of all body systems.

Bread with the addition of bran began to be introduced into the diet of patients with various diagnoses to prevent disease and improve overall health.

Diabetes mellitus

Patients suffering from such a disease as diabetes should be singled out. They need to strictly monitor all the products that come to their daily table. Doctors, as a rule, do not recommend the use of flour products in such a diagnosis, but this ban does not apply to bread with bran. The fact is that this type of bread helps to reduce sugar levels without any medication. But it is important to remember that the daily norm of such products should be equal to 150 g.

In any case, before leaving or introducing bran bread into their diet, a patient diagnosed with diabetes should definitely consult with the attending physician, who will not only explain in detail the benefits of eating bran products, but also eliminate possible risks.

Important: The glycemic index of bran bread is 45 units.

In pancreatitis

Diseases of the pancreas require caution in the consumption of any food. Patients with pancreatitis are forced to refuse ruddy buns, but there will be no harm from bran bread in the period of stable remission. Consuming such bread with pancreatitis, you should choose those varieties that contain a minimum amount of yeast, and there are no flavorings, seeds, prunes, nuts. It is desirable to use bread slightly dried or in the form of bread. You can eat up to four slices per day, and medics recommend cutting them into small breadcrumbs, which will be digested better and will avoid the negative effects caused by the weakening of the pancreas.

During acute inflammation, bran bread should be abandoned completely!

With gastritis

For patients with gastritis, doctors recommend adhering to specialized diets, especially during the acute phase of the disease. Bread products can be consumed again in dried form, but it is better to give up on bran bread. The fact that the hard shell grains increases the pain syndrome and irritates even more the already inflamed mucosa of the stomach. Therefore, bread with bran is contraindicated when diagnosed with gastritis.

Harms and contraindications

Despite all the benefits that bran bread so generously gives the human body, there are a number of contraindications to the use of the product:

• gastritis;
• diarrhea;
• pancreatitis;
• colitis;
• ulcer disease;
• overactive colon;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• acute hemorrhoids;
• acute periods of infectious diseases characterized by high body temperature.

The presence of certain diseases allows the reception of bran bread, but only in dried form and after consultation with a specialist!

How to choose and store

In order for the bran product to bring benefits and not harm, it is necessary to choose it correctly. Experts advise to pay attention to the following points of choice:

1. The uniform color of the product.
2. The absence of black burnt crust and cracks.
3. The presence of individual packaging, a label indicating the manufacturer, the composition of the product and the date of manufacture.
4. Wholemeal or unrefined flour should be listed first in the list of ingredients. If these items are in the middle, it is better to refuse to buy such bread.
5. The presence of fiber should be about 5 g per 100 g. Such a figure indicates a high quality product.
6. The highest quality product should include at least 20% of bran.

Bran bakery products - this is a special product, which means that it should be stored according to special rules. Experts advise to store such bread in the refrigerator on the middle shelf. To do this, it is better to cut the loaf into portions and put them in a bag or food container. When storing it, close the lid tightly or tie the bag. This bread will last longer and will not lose its usefulness. In addition, the bread can be frozen and used later for cooking, for example, croutons.

How to bake bread with bran at home

The huge demand for bran product makes bakers come up with new types of bread. But if you bake such bread at home, you can adjust the taste yourself, based on your own preferences and cravings. In addition, the benefits of such bread will definitely be more, as manufacturers do add stabilizers, so that the preservation of the product was as high as possible.

Recipes for making bran bread are not that complicated and do not require special skills and certification of a top chef.

Recipe #1

To make bran bread with this recipe, you will need:

• wheat flour of the highest grade - 1.5 cups;
• dry yeast - 1 tbsp;
• bran - 0,5 cup;
• sugar - 2 tbsp;
• salt - 0,5 tbsp;
• vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons;
• butter - 1 tbsp;
• water - 1 cup.

Mix water, yeast and sugar and leave in a bowl for 15 minutes. After the time has expired, add the remaining products. In doing so, sift the flour and add in small portions. Then knead the dough, which should not stick to your hands and remain quite soft. After that, cover with a towel and put in a warm place, where it should increase its volume by half. After that, take a mold of heat-resistant material, sprinkle with flour and put there the dough, which should first be kneaded. Then take the dish and place it in a warm place to increase its volume again, after which the whole "construction" should be placed in an oven heated to 200 degrees. Cooking time is 30 minutes. Having taken out the baked product, you should cover it with a cloth and let it stand. Only then you can proceed to the meal.

Recipe #2

This recipe is designed to cook the product in the bread machine.

Ingredients:

• wheat flour - 2.7 cups;
• bran - 1,8 cup;
• warm water - 1,5 cup;
• olive oil (can be replaced with vegetable oil) - 4 dessert spoons;
• dry yeast - 0.8 dessert spoons;
• granulated sugar - 2 dessert spoons;
• salt - 0,5 dessert spoon.

Preparation: Add flour, butter, sugar, salt, bran, and yeast to prepared container of bread oven. Carefully, with a thin trickle, pour warm water. Then set the mode for baking rye bread. In 3.5 hours delicious and fragrant bread with bran will be ready.

Recipe №3

Diet bread with bran in the microwave.

Need:

• chicken egg - 2 pcs;
• wheat bran - 7 tbsp;
• natural yogurt - 2 tbsp;
• soda - 0.5 tsp;
• lemon juice - 0,5 tsp;
• salt and spices to taste.

In a bowl mix the eggs, bran and yogurt. Add to the mixture lemon juice, salt and spices. Then stir again and put in a microwave oven on maximum power. Bread, or rather a loaf, will be ready in five minutes. Such a product can be consumed immediately, since it has no flour. The bread is light and low in calories.

Recipe #4.

Rye bran bread in the bread machine.

Ingredients:

• wheat flour - 480 g;
• rye flour - 130 gr;
• dry yeast - 2 tsp;
• rye bran (you can use oat bran) - 3 tbsp;
• butter - 25 g;
• salt - 2 tbsp;
• sugar - 2 tbsp;
• powdered milk - 2 tbsp;
• drinking water - 350 ml.

All ingredients should be mixed and added to the bowl of the bread machine. Turn on the mode for cooking rye bread. If there is no such mode, then set the cooking time - 4 hours. After that, you can enjoy a delicious and healthy product.

How much bran bread can be eaten per day

Bran bread has its own rules, or rather the norms of daily consumption. Doctors and nutritionists advise adhering to the following "dosage":

1. Children aged 3-7 years should consume 50-70 g per day.
2. The norm for an adult is 300 g per day. One intake should be from 30 to 100 g.
3. Pregnant and lactating women are advised to consume no more than 150 g per day.
4. To improve bowel function and eliminate problems with defecation, two or three pieces per day should be eaten.
5. During the diet period, the daily rate can be equal to 2 slices of bread.
6. To cleanse the intestines, and at the same time to improve the appearance of the skin, experts advise to eat 2 slices of bran bread per day, and the results can be seen in a month.

This type of bakery products can be eaten in the morning and afternoon meal hours. Also, experts warn, if previously bran was not present in the menu, then this bread should be introduced into the diet gradually, starting with a small piece. The best combines such a product with fermented dairy products.

If you follow these small rules, bread with bran will begin to benefit the body and help restore its impaired functions.

Interesting facts about bread

People learned about bread more than 5,000 years ago. Such a long history of the existence of loaves, buns, muffins, and loaves has accumulated many amazing facts. Here are just a few of them:

1. In ancient Egypt, bread was revered like the sun and was signified by the same hieroglyph in writing.
2. Bread has its own holiday, celebrated around the world on October 16.
3. The process of making bread has its own records. For example, according to the famous Guinness Book of Records, the fastest process of harvesting the wheat, grinding it and, actually, making the bread took only 8 minutes and 13 seconds.
4. The leader in bakery consumption is France, where as much as 67 kg per person per year.
5. In the Byzantine Empire, careless bakers were severely punished, up to and including banishment from the city. The best masters were exempted from taxes.
6. Every day about 9 million baked goods are eaten around the world.
7. One of the most popular types of bread in Russia is Borodinsky.
8. The most famous types of bread are recognized as Russian karavay, French baguette, German bretzel, Caucasian lavash, Italian ciabatta, Serbian pagacice, and Mexican tartilla.
9. The word "crumb" itself came from the bread pulp, which is actually what it is called.
10. During the Leningrad blockade, the world-famous "Road of Life", which passed through Ladoga, delivered bread to the inhabitants of the besieged city. The daily quota was only 125 grams - approximately one slice. But, despite this, it was bread that saved many from deadly hunger.
11. In 1928 the first sliced bread appeared. The occasion was the invention of a bread cutting machine by an American, Rovedder.
12. In medieval Europe, stale slices of bread served as cutlery.
13. The most famous symbol of reconciliation is the breaking of bread.
14. In Asian countries, where bread is practically not eaten, it is replaced by rice. It is this cereal that is placed on the table instead of the lavish muffins.
15. The size of the largest loaf of bread, which was made by Mexican bakers in 1996, was 9200 meters long.

And in conclusion it is worth to remind the respectful and careful attitude to the bread, which during the millennial history of its existence has repeatedly proved its usefulness for the human body and has become not only a product of the daily diet, but also a symbol of nourishment and generosity. Not without reason wise ancestors said: "If there is not a piece of bread, then there is a longing in the mansion!"

Photo of bran bread