Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons is a cereal, containing 379 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folate, providing 349%, 302% and 242% of the Daily Value respectively. This cereal is virtually fat-free. Breakfast cereals vary widely in nutrient density. Many are fortified with vitamins and minerals, which can contribute meaningfully to daily nutrient intakes. Our database tracks 66 nutrients for this food, plus glycemic index, insulin index, environmental footprint data.
Top Nutrients
Data for 66 of 150 tracked nutrients
Nutrient Fingerprint
How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.
Complete Nutrient Profile
Macronutrients 9
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water SR | 4.1 | g | — | 0% |
| Calories SR | 379 | kcal | — | — |
| Energy (kJ) SR | 1,587 | kj | — | — |
| Protein SR | 5.9 | g | — | 11% |
| Total Fat SR | 0.95 | g | — | — |
| Carbohydrate SR | 86.8 | g | — | 67% |
| Fiber SR | 1.5 | g | — | 4% |
| Total Sugars SR | 13.8 | g | — | — |
| Ash SR | 2.3 | g | — | — |
Minerals 10
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium SR | 8.0 | mg | — | 1% |
| Iron SR | 27.9 | mg | — | 349% |
| Magnesium SR | 16.0 | mg | — | 4% |
| Phosphorus SR | 63.0 | mg | — | 9% |
| Potassium SR | 224 | mg | — | 7% |
| Sodium SR | 517 | mg | — | 34% |
| Zinc SR | 7.4 | mg | — | 68% |
| Copper SR | 0.13 | mg | — | 15% |
| Manganese SR | 0.65 | mg | — | 28% |
| Selenium SR | 2.2 | µg | — | 4% |
Vitamins 21
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RAE) SR | 1,256 | µg | — | 140% |
| Vitamin A (IU) SR | 4,310 | IU | — | — |
| Retinol SR | 1,248 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Carotene SR | 63.0 | µg | — | — |
| Alpha-Carotene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR | 53.0 | µg | — | — |
| Lycopene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin C SR | 20.7 | mg | — | 23% |
| Vitamin D SR | 8.6 | µg | — | 57% |
| Vitamin D (IU) SR | 345 | IU | — | — |
| Vitamin E SR | 0.05 | mg | — | 0% |
| Vitamin K1 SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin K1 (dihydro) SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin K2 (MK-4) SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Thiamin (B1) SR | 1.8 | mg | — | 151% |
| Riboflavin (B2) SR | 2.1 | mg | — | 158% |
| Niacin (B3) SR | 24.1 | mg | — | 151% |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR | 0.23 | mg | — | 5% |
| Vitamin B6 SR | 2.4 | mg | — | 186% |
| Folate SR | 966 | µg | — | 242% |
| Vitamin B12 SR | 7.2 | µg | — | 302% |
Fatty Acids 8
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturated Fat SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
| Monounsaturated Fat SR | 0.19 | g | — | — |
| Polyunsaturated Fat SR | 0.35 | g | — | — |
| Trans Fat SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Cholesterol SR | 0 | mg | — | — |
| Omega-3 EPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DHA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
Amino Acids 18
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan SR | 0.07 | g | — | — |
| Threonine SR | 0.25 | g | — | — |
| Isoleucine SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
| Leucine SR | 0.80 | g | — | — |
| Lysine SR | 0.13 | g | — | — |
| Methionine SR | 0.13 | g | — | — |
| Cystine SR | 0.11 | g | — | — |
| Phenylalanine SR | 0.37 | g | — | — |
| Tyrosine SR | 0.19 | g | — | — |
| Valine SR | 0.34 | g | — | — |
| Arginine SR | 0.30 | g | — | — |
| Histidine SR | 0.16 | g | — | — |
| Alanine SR | 0.47 | g | — | — |
| Aspartic Acid SR | 0.88 | g | — | — |
| Glutamic Acid SR | 1.4 | g | — | — |
| Glycine SR | 0.27 | g | — | — |
| Proline SR | 0.57 | g | — | — |
| Serine SR | 0.30 | g | — | — |
Nutrient Density Score
The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.
NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.
Nutrient Interactions in This Food
Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.
✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other
Vitamin C dramatically enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the gut. Adding 75 mg vitamin C to a meal can increase iron absorption 3–4 fold.
Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1989
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and requires dietary fat for absorption. Adding fat to a meal significantly increases beta-carotene and retinol absorption.
Ribaya-Mercado et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2007
Vitamin D is fat-soluble. Co-consumption with dietary fat increases absorption by up to 50% compared to taking it on an empty stomach.
Dawson-Hughes et al., J Acad Nutr Diet, 2015
Vitamin D enhances intestinal phosphorus absorption and regulates phosphorus homeostasis via parathyroid hormone signalling.
Bergwitz & Jüppner, Annu Rev Med, 2010
Vitamin B12 and folate are metabolically interdependent. B12 is needed to convert methyltetrahydrofolate back to tetrahydrofolate, enabling folate to participate in DNA synthesis.
Green et al., Nat Rev Dis Primers, 2017
⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete
High zinc intake induces metallothionein in enterocytes, which traps copper and blocks its absorption. Prolonged high-dose zinc can cause copper deficiency.
Prasad et al., JAMA, 1978; Fosmire, Am J Clin Nutr, 1990
Zinc and non-heme iron compete for the same intestinal transporter (DMT1). High doses of one can reduce absorption of the other when taken simultaneously.
Rossander-Hulten et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991
High potassium intake promotes renal sodium excretion and attenuates the blood pressure–raising effect of sodium. A higher K:Na ratio is associated with lower cardiovascular risk.
Aburto et al., BMJ, 2013
Manganese and iron share the DMT1 transporter and compete for absorption. High iron status reduces manganese absorption and vice versa.
Erikson et al., Pharmacol Ther, 2007
Very high vitamin A (retinol) intake may antagonise vitamin D function by competing for shared nuclear receptor pathways (RXR). The effect occurs mainly at pharmacological doses.
Johansson & Melhus, J Bone Miner Res, 2001
Amino Acid Profile
Essential amino acid composition compared to the WHO/FAO adult reference pattern. The Amino Acid Score indicates protein quality — 100 means all essential amino acid requirements are met.
Tip: The limiting amino acid is Lysine. Pair with legumes, dairy, and soy for a complete amino acid profile.
All Amino Acids (18)
| Amino Acid | g / 100g | mg / g protein |
|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan | 0.07 | 11.3 |
| Threonine | 0.25 | 42.1 |
| Isoleucine | 0.26 | 44.3 |
| Leucine | 0.80 | 134.5 |
| Lysine | 0.13 | 22.6 |
| Methionine | 0.13 | 22.6 |
| Cystine | 0.11 | 19.0 |
| Phenylalanine | 0.37 | 63.0 |
| Tyrosine | 0.19 | 31.3 |
| Valine | 0.34 | 57.2 |
| Arginine | 0.30 | 50.5 |
| Histidine | 0.16 | 27.4 |
| Alanine | 0.47 | 78.5 |
| Aspartic Acid | 0.88 | 147.8 |
| Glutamic Acid | 1.4 | 234.7 |
| Glycine | 0.27 | 46.1 |
| Proline | 0.57 | 95.8 |
| Serine | 0.30 | 51.2 |
Fatty Acid Profile
Breakdown of fat types per 100g. A healthy fat profile favours unsaturated fats (mono + poly) and a balanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.
How Cooking Changes Nutrients
Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Cereal” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.
Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.
Glycemic & Insulin Response
The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar on a 0–100 scale. The Insulin Index (II) measures the insulin response directly, which can differ from GI — notably, dairy and high-protein foods often trigger a higher insulin response than their GI suggests. White bread = 100 for both scales.
GI data matched from: “Breakfast cereal (estimated from category)” · ●●● low confidence
Source: International Tables of Glycemic Index (Sydney University, 2021) · Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014
Environmental Impact
Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Wheat & Rye (Bread)” category.
- Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
- System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
- Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
- Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.
Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.
Global Supply: Cereals
Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Cereals” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.
Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)
+8%Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons?
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons contains 379 kcal per 100 grams, making it a calorie-dense food. The energy comes from 5.9g of protein (6% of calories), 0.95g of fat (2%), and 86.8g of carbohydrates (92%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.
What is Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons most nutritious for?
The standout nutrient in Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons is Iron, providing 27.9 mg per 100g (349% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Vitamin B12 (302% DV). Our database tracks 66 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Is Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons high in protein?
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons contains 5.9g of protein per 100 grams. While not a high-protein food, it can contribute to daily protein needs as part of a varied diet.
How much fiber is in Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons?
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons contains 1.5g of fiber per 100 grams, which is a small amount. To increase fiber intake, consider pairing with high-fiber foods such as legumes, whole grains, or vegetables.
What is the glycemic index of Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons?
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons has a glycemic index of 70, which is classified as high (≥70). High-GI foods cause a rapid spike in blood sugar. Pairing with protein, fat, or fiber can help moderate the glycemic response. The glycemic load, which accounts for typical serving size, provides additional context for real-world blood sugar impact.
What is the insulin index of Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons?
Cereals ready-to-eat, RALSTON Crispy Hexagons has a high insulin response (II: 64) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). Foods with high insulin scores stimulate significant insulin release, which may be relevant for blood sugar management. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.