We all have been eating bread for almost all our lives, but have you ever thought if the bread you eat daily even good for your health? If you never asked this question to yourself, then do it now. It’s never too late to learn new things and changing habits in life.
Different types of bread are made and eaten all around the world – flatbread, cornbread, whole-grain bread, sweetened bread, and many more – all made with a variety of ingredients and in different ways. And the truth is that not every bread is bad for your health. But how can a person know if a specific bread is good for his/her health or not? Here we will help you out with this problem. We will discuss some aspects related to bread through which we can determine if one bread is more or less healthy than the others.
Carbs
Carbs are the primary nutrient that bread contains. Carbs are also considered as the fuel to the human body.
Healthy carbs are only present in natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. On the other hand, highly processed foods such as white bread made of highly processed ingredients do not contain healthy carbs. So, which bread is more of a healthier choice? Bread made from whole grains is the answer. Whole grain bread also contains carbs but healthy ones, as the ingredients are not processed.
But, how would a person know if the bread is whole grain or not?
Determine Whether the Bread is Whole-Grain Or Not
While buying bread from any store look at the ingredients first. The first word in the ingredients should be “whole”. The word “whole” means that all the parts of the grain – bran, germ, and endosperm – are used in the making of the bread.
Always, take a good look at the ingredients as the ingredients will give you an idea about the whole grain or processed ingredients used in the bread.
When is the Bread Not Healthy?
You should know that some other aspects can make bread an unhealthy choice. Following is a list of factors that can make bread unhealthy:
- Additives
- Highly processed flour
- Preservatives
- Added sugars
Additives and highly processed flour used in making bread unhealthy, these things can also increase the risks of heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes.
Preservatives will keep the bread fresh, and harm your health. Always look for bread that has lesser amounts of preservatives.
Usually, there are added sugars in different types of bread. The sugars are added with different names, for example, fructose, glucose, and sucrose. Look for ingredients that end with “-ose”, yes those are sugars, buddy!
The ingredients listed at the starting of the ingredient list are usually present in higher proportions, if you read them carefully it will be easier for you to determine whether it is a good choice or not.
Some other things that most breads contain and which are unhealthy are as follows:
- Lower amounts of essential nutrients
- Gluten
- Antinutrients
But, there are always healthy options available.
Healthy Bread Options:
Choose your bread wisely, here are some varieties you can choose from.
Whole-Wheat Bread
Whole-wheat bread can be a great choice for starters, because of the higher fiber and protein levels. The fiber and protein help in lowering and keeping the blood sugar level steady. Along with this, whole-wheat bread consists of more nutrients than white bread, for example, selenium and manganese.
Bread Made of Sprouted Grains
Another healthy bread option is the bread made from the sprouted grains. This can be a great addition to your daily intake as sprouted bread has maximum nutritional benefits. The sprouted grains used in this bread work for the betterment of digestion and also contains beta-carotene, Vitamin E and C, folate, fiber, and fewer antinutrients.
For a healthy lifestyle, it is necessary to make healthy choices. You can make small changes in your daily life to achieve the goal of healthy eating.
