Allaine Mark

Healthy Bread Appliance Cookbook Allaine Mark

Despite what many people believe, some types of bread are excellent for a person's health. Whole-grain bread, Ezekiel bread, and rye bread are among the most healthful options. Bread made from whole or sprouted grains contains essential nutrients, including protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Others, such as processed white bread, contain very few nutrients. Switching white bread for a more healthful version is a quick and easy way to improve the diet. Not all breads are created equal. White bread contains refined wheat flour, a processed form of wheat grain. During processing, the flour loses the most nutritious parts of the wheat grain. This includes the bran, which is the outer layer of a grain that contains B vitamins, minerals, and the germ. The germ is the core of a grain that contains vitamins B, E, phytochemicals, and healthful fats. Whole-grain bread contains the bran, germ, and endosperm. This means it provides a lot more nutrition than processed white bread. Also, white bread contains high levels of simple carbohydrates. This means the body breaks it down quickly, providing a spike of energy. Whole-grain versions, however, contain complex carbohydrates. The body takes longer to process them, making a person feel fuller for longer. White bread also has a high score on the glycemic index (GI) scale. The GI scale is a measure of how quickly foods that contain carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels. Foods with a high GI cause rapid spikes in blood glucose levels, which over time, can harm the body.