Total cereal is one of the most popular go-to breakfast cereals on the market. It is made by General Mills, which is one of the largest cereal manufacturers in the world.
This cereal is marketed as the source of 100% daily value of 11 essential vitamins and minerals.
And while it is made from whole grain and tastes good, is Total cereal healthy for you?
Short answer: Total cereal is a healthy breakfast option as it is made from 100% whole grain wheat, is a good source of fiber, and contains many vitamins and minerals.
Let’s deep dive into more about Total cereal, including it’s nutritional value and ingredients.
Also read: Are Coco Pops Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast Cereal
Nutritional value of Total cereal
Total cereal is made from whole grains and offers a range of essential nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals in good amounts.
A single serving of Total cereal(40g) contains:
- Calories: 140
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Sugar: 5-6g
- Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Protein: 3g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Iron: 18mg
- Calcium: 40mg
Other nutrients that Total cereal includes are vitamins A, C, D, E, B1(Thiamin), B2(Riboflavin), B3(Niacin), B5(Pantothenic acid), B6( Pyridoxine ), B9(Folate), B12(Cobalamin), and Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and zinc.
Ingredients in Total cereal
The key ingredients in Total cereal include Whole grain(wheat), Sugar, Corn syrup, Salt, Monoglycerides, Annatto Extract Color, BHT, and Vitamins and minerals.
Let’s know a little about some of the ingredients.
- Whole grain(wheat): Total cereal is made up of 100% whole grain wheat. This makes it a good source of fiber and several other vitamins and minerals.
- Sugar: The second ingredient in Total cereal is sugar, mainly from added sugar and corn syrup.
- Monoglycerides: These are a type of emulsifier that is used to improve the texture and shelf life of the food.
- Annatto Extract Color: It is a natural food color obtained from the seeds of the annatto tree.
- BHT( Butylated Hydroxytoluene): It is a man-made antioxidant that is used in Total cereal to preserve the freshness and flavor
8 Reasons Total cereal is healthy for you
1. Made from whole grain
Most breakfast cereals these days promote themselves as being healthy simply by adding a meager amount of vitamins and minerals.
However, when their ingredients are examined, they are made of refined grains, corn, or rice.
Fortunately, that’s not the case with Total cereal.
Total cereal is made from 100% whole-grain wheat, making it a healthy way to start the day.
Studies shows that people who eat more whole grain foods are at less risk of developing obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other chronic disease[1].
2. Low in added sugar
Total cereal is low in added sugar containing 5 to 6g per serving (40g).
That’s about 16% of the daily added sugar limit for men and 24% for women.
Cereals with 5g or less sugar per serving are typically considered low in sugar.
Moreover, the sugar in total cereal primarily comes from sugar.
If compared, Total cereal has less sugar than popular cereals like Cheerios, Reese’s puffs and Kellogg’s raisins bran.
3. Good source of fiber
Total cereal is a good source of fiber containing 4g per serving(40g).
That’s about 16% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
Fiber is an essential part of the diet as it improve digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer.
If compared, Total cereal offers more fiber than popular cereals like Reese’s puffs, Cocoa puffs and Cheerios.
4. Excellent source of Iron
Total cereal is an excellent source of Iron, providing 18mg per 40g of serving.
That’s about a whopping 200% of the daily iron need for men and 120% for women.
Starting your day with an iron-rich breakfast can help replenish your iron stores and provide the energy you need to start the day.
Additionally, being rich in Iron, Total cereal can also be beneficial for women going through pregnancy as they require more iron than others.
5. Excellent source of vitamins
Total cereal is an excellent source of vitamins such as:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Thiamin (B1)
- Riboflavin (B2)
- Niacin (B3)
- Pantothenic acid (B5)
- Pyridoxine (B6)
- Folate (B9)
- Cobalamin (B12)
Total cereal contains 100% of the daily value of these vitamins in just single serving.
Although you may get these vitamins from your regular diet, including Total cereal in your breakfast won’t hurt.
In fact, very few breakfast cereals can match the high vitamin levels found in Total cereal.
6. Free from unhealthy additives
Most brands add various additives to their breakfast cereals to make them taste great and look better. However, these additives are often harmful to consumers health.
Total cereal is free of harmful additives such as hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, GMOs, artificial sweeteners, color, and flavors.
Although it does contain BHT, the amount is minimal and poses no health risks.
7. Beneficial for diabetics
Being made from whole grains and high in nutrients (especially fiber), including Total cereal, can be beneficial for diabetics.
Although it contains 5g of added sugar, at the same time, it also has a good amount of fiber(4g per serving) that can help regulate the blood sugar levels in the body.
8. Boost immune system
A strong immune system is important as it helps fight off the harmful pathogens and bacteria you encounter daily.
Total cereal is good for the immune system as it is packed with 100% daily value of zinc.
Zinc is known for its immunity-boosting capabilities.
In addition to zinc, Total cereal is also a good source of vitamins C and E, which contribute to immune defense by supporting cellular functions[2].
Are there any downsides to Total cereal?
Total cereal is a nutrient-dense breakfast to start your day with. However, there are couple of downsides to it.
First, Total cereal has 5g of added sugar, which is not significant compared to many other breakfast cereals, but this can make some people unhappy.
Second, despite being made with 100% Whole grain and free from harmful additives, Total cereal is considered processed food due to added sugar and emulsifier(Monoglycerides).
Is Total cereal good for weight loss?
Total cereal is not a perfect food for weight loss because of its added sugar content. However, it can still be a part of a weight loss diet because of its good fiber content and overall nutritional value.
Additionally, it is made with whole grain, which is typically considered good for weight loss.
What about calories? Total cereal is also low in calories containing less than 150 per serving.
To make the most out of Total cereal for weight loss, avoid adding sugar or other syrup to it.
At last, remember that weight loss doesn’t depend on only one food but overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Total cereal vegan?
As per the label of Total cereal box, it contains bioengineered or genetically modified ingredients which may not be suitable for vegans.
However, some vegans may consider bioengineered food products acceptable as long as they do not contain animal-derived ingredients, while others may consider them unethical.
Ultimately. it’s upto you whether you are okay with the bioengineered ingredients, but Total cereal is not vegan-friendly.
Final words
To wrap up, Total cereal is healthy for you because it is made from whole grains, has a good fiber content (4g per serving), is free of harmful additives, and is high in vitamins and minerals.
However, it also has 5g of added sugar and uses genetically modified ingredients. Therefore it can’t be considered the healthiest breakfast cereal out there.
However, if sugar and GMOs are not a concern for you, Total cereal can become one of the most nutritious breakfast option for you.
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