In the busy mornings, breakfast often means just one thing — cereal. More than 53% of Americans choose cereal for breakfast every week. There are many types available, such as oats, granola, and puffed rice.
However, many scientists have warned that these cereals are actually highly processed snacks that may not be good for our health.
Today, the production of breakfast cereals is an industrial process. Cereals go through multiple stages of processing before being packaged and placed on supermarket shelves. Some are made from whole grains, but in many cases, the grains are ground and stripped of their outer bran layer — the part that holds the most nutrients. The resulting product is then mixed with flavor additives and other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals.
Although some breakfast cereals are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, many also contain high levels of added sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. These ingredients can cause spikes in blood sugar levels, which over time may increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.
Source: bbc.com