Best type of bread

Bread is a form of carbohydrate and most people who are on diets or who are watching their weight would try to avoid bread; especially white bread that is high in sugars( causes blood insulin level to spike when consumed) which increases the risk of getting heart diseases, stroke, diabetes and a fatty liver. If you want to look young, try to minimize the consumption of white bread as it causes wrinkles, dull and lifeless skin.

White bread is made from refined grains which are stripped of protein and important vitamin B to produce sweeter bread.

So what constitutes to healthy, good bread?

Look for 100% whole grain bread!

Don't be fooled by the packaging of some bread that says "wheat", "multi-grain" or” contains X amounts of whole grain" as it is usually a disguise for white bread.

So what so good about whole grain?

Well, whole grain bread is a great source of fibre that reduces the risk of colon cancer, heart disease and for those watching their weight, whole grain fills up your stomach more so you would not feel hungry easily. This prevents you from over-eating;) Whole grain also contains useful proteins and vitamin B that is essential for youthful skin and great, healthy looking hair.

Some healthy bread do not have the 100% whole grain sign so another way to tell if the bread is beneficial for health is to look at the amount of fibre present. Whole grain bread would have at least 2 grams of fibre. Any less would mean that the bread is refined and hence should be avoided.

When we look at the ingredient list of the product, whole grain should be first. Sugar would also appear as the third or fourth ingredient and this is OKAY:) ;Sugar is needed in bread for fermentation of yeast which causes bread to rise.

Although some of us would love to eat healthily by consuming whole meal bread, some do not fancy the rougher and coarser texture of wholemeal bread. If this is the case, you can opt for soft meal bread. Soft meal bread contains a lower content of gluten and is softer and less grainy compared to whole meal bread. Soft meal bread taste a little like white bread just that it has the added healthy benefits of wheat.

Hope that with these useful knowledge that you are now armed with, you would be able to eat and live more healthy :) When consuming bread, try to go for whole meal or soft meal as they keep you fuller for longer periods of time. This fullness would prevent you from over eating and result in better weight control and management! Let's all strive for a better, healthier lifestyle and still enjoy the food we love;)

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