Product Review: Is Raisin Bran a Good Choice for Breakfast?

Raisin Bran. It seems like it would at least be one of the better cereals, right?  

These types of foods are great to talk about because many people view them as a healthy option when compared to other sugary cereals.  As with many similar processed pre-packaged foods, they come with a health claim.  The box says that this cereal is both “high fiber” and also “heart-healthy”.   Let’s take a closer look.  

Does this food contain fiber?  Yes, it does.  But keep reading…

Is it heart healthy?  This claim is due to the fact that it is low in cholesterol, which has indeed been shown to reduce heart disease.  But really … of course it’s low in cholesterol.  Cholesterol is found in animal products and this cereal of course doesn’t contain any meat/dairy/eggs/etc.  (Although if you’re using cow’s milk with the cereal, then you are getting cholesterol … but back to the cereal itself and the claim to be heart healthy.)  There are lots of foods that are low in cholesterol but still aren’t health-promoting (white bread, for example). 

Improving and maintaining radiant health is always the standard I am going for.  Instead of asking, “Will it really hurt me?”  Let’s ask, “Does it really add value, improve my health and help me to look and feel my best?”  Now that is a standard worth striving for!

Raisin Bran cereal contains 4-5 different types of sweeteners as well as genetically modified oats and natural flavors, which we can’t really identify with any degree of certainty (meaning that they may or may not be natural since there are no legal qualifiers for labeling something as natural).  Raisins could be okay in moderation since they are indeed just a dried fruit;  However, these raisins are covered in sugar (crazy, I know…), and not just 1 type but several, one of the main ones being high fructose corn syrup.

I would not recommend this product after reviewing the ingredients.  There are so many better options for breakfast or for a snack that are whole food plant-based without added sugars, chemicals, or genetically modified ingredients.

Refined sugar¹, genetically modified foods² and processed foods³ in general are not health promoting.  Raisin Bran is another one of those “junk foods” wearing the deceptive clothing of a “health food”.  

You and your family deserve to only consume the BEST FOODS EVER!  Your calling in life is important and, in order to fulfill it, you need to run on high octane fuel.  You’re too good for Raisin Bran.

Looking for a better breakfast?  My all-time favorite is a green smoothie… Or there’s always oatmeal with walnuts and fresh fruit, homemade or whole food vegan granola, avocado yogurt, and the list goes on.  But let’s be real…  Throw out the rules…  If you want to eat a sweet potato or a salad or rice and beans for breakfast, do it.  Nourishment comes in many forms and it’s important that you LOVE your food!

You’re amazing and I am thankful that you took the time to read this post so that you and your family can gain insight into the best way to fuel your body.  Much love!  

Check out more blogs like this by going to https://newhopehealth.com/category/blog/ 

Reference list:

1. Rippe JM, Angelopoulos TJ. Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding. Nutrients. 2016. doi:10.3390/nu8110697
2. Genetically Modified Foods. American Academy of Environmental Medicine. https://www.aaemonline.org/gmo.php. Published 2020. Accessed October 21, 2020.
3. Hall KD, Ayuketah A, Brychta R, et al. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake. Cell Metab. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008

Nothing said or implied in this post is intended to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent any disease.  It does not take the place of a qualified health care practitioner and is intended for educational purposes only.