
Are you eating the wrong kind of bread? What do you usually pick – white or whole grain? There’s a big difference between white and whole grain bread and what you choose matters! Let’s talk bread and how this simple swap can upgrade your health and diet!
White Bread:
Most white bread is not great for you. This bread has been highly processed and is full of refined carbs, which can cause your blood sugar to quickly rise and fall, leading to energy crashes and cravings. Highly processed white bread often lacks fiber as well, which provides nutritional value and helps to keep you full after eating! It’s also pretty void of any nutrients since they have all been processed out. Most companies often add refined sugars and artificial ingredients to their breads as well, neither of which are great for you! Eating a high intake of simple and refined carbohydrates like store bought white bread can lead to weight gain and a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases. This doesn’t mean you need to avoid white bread all together, just be mindful about how much you’re eating it.
Whole Grain Bread:
100% whole grain bread is a much better option. This type of bread is less processed and refined and contains complex carbs, which will provide you with long term energy and steady blood sugar. Whole grain bread often contains a good amount of fiber too, which will help to fill you up for hours after eating. Most whole grain bread is more nutritious than white bread since it contains the whole grain kernel and has been less processed overall (which means more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are still intact). You have to be careful though – many food companies advertise their bread as whole grain when it is really not. Look for 100% whole grain bread or 100% whole wheat bread. You also want to watch for added sugars and unrecognizable ingredients. Try to choose 100% whole grain bread with no added sugar and with minimal other ingredients!
My Favorite Bread:
My favorite brand of store bought whole grain bread is Food For Life Baking. Their bread is whole grain AND sprouted, making it making it easily digestible and highly nutritious. They also avoid using added sugars and artificial ingredients! It’s so good!
Who’s making the swap?