How to Use Oat Bran to Add Fiber to Your Diet

Figure out how much daily fiber you need to meet daily intake requirements. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest eating 14 g of fiber per 1,000 calories in your diet. If you eat a standard 2,000-calorie daily diet, you will therefore require about 28 g of fiber daily.

Add your oat bran gradually. A sudden change in diet, especially concerning your fiber intake, might lead to uncomfortable gastrointestinal effects, such as gas and diarrhea, which are commonly reported side effects of a sudden increase in dietary fiber.

Use the oat bran as a meal, snack or as a tasty garnish. Oat bran cereal is easy to prepare, with the recipe usually right on the can of bran. Snacking on handfuls of bran throughout the day might help you feel full longer and curb future snacking habits. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of oat bran on yogurt, fresh fruit or in a smoothie for an edible garnish.

Choose store-bought oat bran products wisely. A product can be labeled as "Added Fiber" even if it only contains 2.5 g more fiber than another similar product. Look for oat bran products labeled "High Fiber," which must contain 5 or more grams of dietary fiber per serving.

Drink water with the oat bran. Water-soluble fiber will absorb water in the intestines, which could lead to painful constipation if you do not increase your water consumption as you increase your fiber consumption.

Mix 1 and 1/2 cups oat bran, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 1 and 1/2 cup flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 2 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. salt in a mixing bowl.

Add 2 eggs, 1 cup cold applesauce and 4 tbsp. of vegetable oil to the mixture. Spoon the mixture into a muffin pan and let it sit for 10 minutes before baking.

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Once the oven in preheated, insert the muffins and bake for 15 minutes. Wait a few minutes to enjoy your tasty oat bran fiber -- these muffins will be hot.