Doing your weekly food shop can be quite stressful when you see how many options there are for each product. Even when you have recipes to follow, you’ve still got to decide on brands.
Just as you would read the labelling of wine you’re purchasing, it pays to consider ingredients and manufacturing processes for bread, too. They are not all the same, and some are better for you than others.
Don’t tie yourself up in knots in the bakery section. If you’re looking for the healthiest bread option for your family, consider these below.
Sourdough
Sourdough may not be your first choice, but it can be a healthy, delicious option that your family loves. Sourdough bread goes through a unique fermentation process, with naturally-occurring yeast allowing the bread to rise.
Due to its prebiotics and probiotics produced during fermentation, sourdough bread can be easier for your body to digest than other types. It also has a low glycaemic index and promotes good gut health.
The best part is, you can buy it in whole wheat and white varieties. Give it a try, and you might be surprised at how it works for you.
Whole Wheat
If you are looking for a bread type that is high in fibre, then whole wheat can be an excellent option for you. During the manufacturing process, the grains are kept intact to provide protein, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds.
Whole grains also come with a whole host of health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even various cancers. You are sure to find plenty of recipes utilising whole wheat bread that makes it worth a closer look.
Rye Bread
You can easily spot rye bread in your local food market, even when surrounded by dozens of bread varieties. It tends to be the darkest option available, and also a little denser. Rye bread features rye flour but no wheat flour.
This bread type is nutritious, delicious, and can even make you feel fuller than other bread varieties. What’s more, studies show that one in 12 adults who ate whole grain rye bread released less insulin than those who ate white bread.
Flax Bread
Flax bread may not be everyone’s first choice, but its health benefits may end up making it so. It consists of flax seeds and whole grain flour and is one of the best breads for nutrition that you can buy.
Flax seeds provide omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). High intakes of ALA have been known to reduce the risk of heart disease. One study even showed that in 6,000 postmenopausal women, eating flax seeds resulted in an 18% lower risk of breast cancer than those who didn’t eat this bread type.
Just as you would pay attention to your wine bottle labelling, it’s a good idea to pay the same amount of attention to the bread packaging. On your next regular food shop, why not choose a different bread variety? There are plenty of nutritious, delicious options out there.