Bran facts for kids
Bran is the tough outer part of cereal grains. Think of it as the protective skin of a grain, like wheat, oats, rice, or corn. It's made up of two main layers: the aleurone and the pericarp.
When grains are processed to make things like white flour or white rice, the bran is often removed. This is why whole grain foods are special, because they still have the bran (and the germ) included!
It's important to know that bran is different from chaff. Chaff is the very rough, scaly material that surrounds the grain but isn't actually part of the grain itself. Humans can't digest chaff.
Contents
What's Inside Bran?
Bran is super healthy! It's packed with dietary fiber, which is great for your digestion. It also has important fats, starch, proteins, vitamins, and dietary minerals.
One thing to know about bran is that it contains something called phytic acid. This acid can sometimes make it harder for your body to absorb all the good nutrients.
Bran also has a bit of oil in it. Because of this, it can go bad (become rancid) if stored for too long. To help it last longer, bran is often heated before it's stored or used.
Here's a quick look at some nutrients found in different types of bran:
| Nutrients (%) | Wheat | Rye | Oat | Rice | Barley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates (not including starch) | 45–50 | 50–70 | 16–34 | 18–23 | 70–80 |
| Starch | 13–18 | 12–15 | 18–45 | 18–30 | 8–11 |
| Proteins | 15–18 | 8–9 | 13–20 | 15–18 | 11–15 |
| Fats | 4–5 | 4–5 | 6–11 | 18–23 | 1–2 |
Different Kinds of Bran
Rice Bran
Rice bran is what's left over when brown rice is turned into white rice. It's full of helpful things called antioxidants. It also contains special fats and compounds that might help keep your body healthy. Rice bran has a lot of dietary fibers too.
Some studies have found small amounts of a substance called inorganic arsenic in rice bran. Scientists are always studying this to make sure our food is safe.
Wheat Bran
Wheat bran is very common. It's often used as food for animals like poultry (chickens) and other farm animals. It's a good source of nutrients for them.
How is Bran Used?
Bran is used in many ways around the world!
- In Food: You'll often find bran added to breads, especially muffins, and breakfast cereals. This is a great way to add more healthy fiber to your diet.
- Pickling: In Japan, rice bran (called nuka) is used for a special kind of pickling called nukazuke.
- Cooking: Japanese people also add rice bran to water when they boil bamboo shoots. In some cities, it's used to stew fish like sardines.
- Oil: Oil can be taken out of bran, especially rice bran. This rice bran oil can be used for cooking or in industries like paint making.
- Other Uses:
* Bran can be stuck to the outside of commercial ice blocks to stop them from melting too fast. * It's been found to be a good way to keep slugs away from plants in gardens. * Bran is also used as food for insects like mealworms, which are sometimes fed to pets. * Historically, wheat bran has been used to help tan leather.
Bran in Brewing
Even George Washington had a recipe for a light beer called "small beer" that included bran, hops, and molasses!
Research on Bran
Scientists are always studying bran to learn more about how it can help our bodies. They are looking into how the fiber in bran and other whole grains might improve our nutrition and help prevent long-term health problems.
See also
In Spanish: Salvado para niños
