Bread, in addition to being a healthy food, is a complement to the meals on the table of many millions of people around the world. There are countless types of bread, but they all start from the same base, flour and water. Yeast, salt, cereals or any type of complement that can be added to the dough, will serve to enrich the bread.
But even yeast is not necessary if we have sourdough, the authentic and original key to bread. However, in recent decades an anti-bread trend, or to be exact, anti-carbohydrates, has been created. Which undoubtedly puts this rich food on the table of the demonized, unfairly in most cases. Because According to nutrition experts, bread is a healthy food and essential in the diet due to the many benefits of this very traditional product.
How to choose the healthiest bread?
Sourdough is in fashion and it is something that leads to confusion in believing that bread made with sourdough is healthier for this reason. Sourdough actually makes bread taste better, crispier, and last longer in good condition, but it doesn't make it healthier. The sourdough is obtained from the fermentation of yeasts that contains the cereal.
Through a slow and very careful process, the yeasts of the cereal are fed with water and a dough is created that makes the bread dough acquire a body and a different texture than that obtained with yeast. Now though this fermentation process makes the bread richer in terms of taste, it is not what turns a good bread into a healthy one.
What does make a really healthy bread is the type of flour used to make it. Specifically, the healthiest bread is made with whole wheat flour, that is, full grain. Thus all the properties of the cereal are obtained and used, found in the shell. That outer part that is removed to refine the wheat and turn it into white flour.
The shell or outer part of the grain contains minerals, soluble fiber and vitamin B and inside the carbohydrates and proteins. When bread is made with whole grain flour, it becomes a food packed with all these nutritional properties. Therefore, if you want to choose the healthiest bread you will have to look always the one that is made entirely with whole wheat flour.
Tricks to recognize a good bread
Now that we know that the best bread is simply the one made with whole wheat flour, we are going to discover some tricks to identify the best options. Today you can find bread in all kinds of shops, but the best thing whenever possible is to go to artisan bakeries. If you live in a town, you will be lucky to have a trusted baker and enjoy great bread.
To choose the best bread at a glance, always look for the one that is fresh, unwrapped. Regarding the image, avoid very beautiful, white and very light breads, because they are usually pre-cooked breads that contain refined flours. A good bread must have an artisan aspect, where the kneading that gives it that texture and flavor is noticeable so special.
As for packaged bread, look at the label to see if it is a healthy bread or not. Rustic, homemade or artisan labels that are used frequently are not an indicator of good bread. What you should look at is the part of the ingredients and there you will discover if it is a really healthy product. Flour, water, salt and yeast or sourdough should appear in that list of ingredients. If it has more than 5 ingredients, as is the case with sliced bread, you will be facing a less healthy bread.
With these tricks you can choose the healthiest bread and enjoy this delicious food every day.