Cereals are an efficient option, especially for those living a busy lifestyle. It contains all the required nutrients. It is easy to prepare, making it even more consumed among busy individuals. However, some cereals contain added sugar and flavor, which are unsuitable for your health. Such cereals enhance body fat and carbohydrates, having an adverse effect on the body. On the other hand, other options can be considered the healthiest breakfast cereals. They are DIY or homemade and market-bought cereals. They provide all the body’s needs with the full balance of each nutrient requirement.
It would be much better if you knew what you are giving to your body, and the same goes for cereals as well. It can be understood from the benefits of the healthiest cereals, how to identify or find the right fit cereals, and more.
Benefits of healthy breakfast cereals
Knowing the benefits of any particular action enhances the spirit and effort of doing it. And when it comes to health, it can’t be anything more important than that. Knowing the benefits of healthy breakfast cereals makes the step clearer and the effort lighter. The following are benefits of breakfast cereals that are worth considering and using in the breakfast:
1. Blood Sugar Management
More often, the busy lifestyle also gives birth to many health issues. Blood sugar is one of them. Whole grain cereals are very rich in fiber and slow down digestion. It helps in regulating blood sugar levels in the body. Recent studies suggest that regular consumption of high fiber cereal minimizes the risk of type 2 diabetes. The rule of thumb to get the right fit cereals is to choose 100% whole grain. It is natural without any type of additional substitute
2. Heart Health
The fiber in natural grain cereals helps maintain cholesterol levels in the body, decreasing the chances of cardiovascular disease. In addition, healthy cereals help increase the amount of needed cholesterol in the body. The presence of plant and antioxidants in whole grain cereals also plays a vital role in decreasing the chance of a heart stroke.
3. Nutrient Contribution
The right nutrient presence in the body leads to a healthy body and lifestyle. A healthy protein cereal balances the need for different types of body protein. In addition, fully cereals also cover needed minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. Healthy cereals are also a great source of folate, which is responsible for cell growth and development in the body.
4. Healthiest Breakfast Cereals
What is the healthiest breakfast cereals may not be to others. Indeed, organic and pure ingredients are the best way to get the premium quality of the cereals. However, the different bodies need different nutrient proportions. So, to address it, here is the list of the healthiest cereals:
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Homemade Granola
The name clearly says it is home-prepared cereal. It is prepared with the ingredients of rolled oats, nuts, and dried fruits. All the ingredients are cooked in the oven until they achieve a crispy state. The final products contain plenty of protein and healthy fats. However, there are also granola cereals present in the market that are high in sugar and added flavor, making them unhealthy to eat. So, DIY or homemade granola is the best way to eat. Also, note that granola contains quite a high amount of calories, which is 1 cup or 122g, giving 600 calories, so consume it accordingly.
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Oats
Due to their richness of fiber and other nutrients, Oats are considered to be the best breakfast cereals for weight loss. Such high-end features make it highly popular among people dealing with being overweight. It is mainly rolled out or crushed. Oats are easily prepared, playing a major role due to their larger amount of usage. It also contains plenty of iron and magnesium. Some of the oats are fortified with minerals and vitamins during their processing. If you want optimum health results, prepare your own oats, as store-bought oatmeal contains added sugars and other unhealthy flavors. To make it more friendly, you can make overnight oats. It can be done by soaking in milk and yogurt for some hours. By the morning, it would be ready to have for breakfast, making it one of the healthiest cereal.
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Post Grape Nuts
Grape Nuts is another healthy cereal option. It was discovered and developed around 128 years ago, containing only four ingredients. They were salt, whole grain wheat flour, malted barley flour, and dried yeast. With time, the making process and ingredients change. Now, you can also make your own Grape Nuts using almond and coconut flours. The modern market nuts contain wheat flour, malted barley flour, salt, dried yeast with added vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, zinc oxide, vitamin B6, and folic acid. Such high levels of nutrients make Grape Nuts one of the healthiest breakfast cereals. However, the market grape nuts also contain sugar, so maintain the consumption accordingly.
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DIY Muesli
DIY muesli is renowned for its delicious taste and high-end health benefits. Broadly, it is prepared with the participation of grains, nuts, seeds, oats, and dried fruit. One of the best qualities of muesli cereals is that you can eat them in raw form without any baking process. Making it highly suitable for people who are always short of time. The presence of whole grains and nuts makes muesli a rich source of protein. It makes it one of the healthy protein cereal out there. However, many brands keep posturing about their quality, but they all contain flavor to tempt people with other unhealthy ingredients.
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DIY Peanut Butter Puffs Cereal
Homemade peanut butter puffs cereal is a spectacular healthy source of the required nutrients, with limited effort and time. Many people have already replaced the market puffs cereal with DIY butter cereals. It is prepared with a combination of almond flour, peanut butter, cocoa powder, and coconut oil. Mix and roll all the ingredients into small round balls, then bake them in the oven. You can also replace almond flour with wheat flour, which helps in decreasing the carb content in the cereal. Eliminating store-bought peanut butter is a great way to reduce sugar consumption, which takes care of many other needed areas of the body. The reason to replace the almond flour is its high calorie content, which is 622 calories per 100g. And it is challenging for humans to digest such a high ratio.
Final Thought
You can go for the healthiest breakfast cereals if they contain the right and healthy ingredients. The mode can be DIY or market-bought. However, the homemade ones are the best optimized. It facilitates the option of making according to the needs of calories, protein, and other nutrients for your body. On the other hand, market cereals consist of refined grains, added sugar, and flavors, decreasing their quality and increasing their negative effects on the body. So, it is better to avoid it. Having said that, there are still plenty of nutritious cereal options on the market. They consist of plenty of fiber and protein without any kind of artificial ingredients. Remember to check the list of ingredients before buying, as it will ensure that you have healthy cereals.
