Why Sliced White Bread is Bad For Your Health

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

Most dinner tables aren’t complete without the ubiquitous white bread. But while white bread is the most popular bread around, it’s not the healthiest choice. For one thing, white bread offers few nutritional value. Eating it for long term could lead to various health problems.

In today’s post, we are giving you five reasons to switch from white bread to a healthier alternative:

It’s Made From Refined Grains

When grains are overly processed, their nutritional value is diminished. When making white bread, the grains are stripped of their bran and germ. These are healthy sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber. As such, white bread contains lower vitamins and minerals. Some manufacturers add nutrients back to their products. But even so, whole grain bread is still better than white bread.

It’s High in Sugar

Most people love white bread because it tastes better than whole grain bread. That’s because it’s laden with sugar. This means hypoglycemic individuals and diabetics should not eat white bread.

White bread is made from refined flour. This ingredient is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing an elevated blood sugar level.

Low in Fiber

According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high-sugar, low-fiber diet increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. This natural compound bulks up stool and binds with fat. Fiber promotes weight loss, keeps blood sugar level normal and maintain healthy digestive tract. Because the grains in white bread are free from wheat bran and germ, its has very little fiber.

Allergic Reaction

Some people are sensitive to gluten. Gluten is found in most grain products, including white bread. When you eat bread, the gluten causes the body to generate excessive mucus. Mucus helps trap acids and toxins. Too much mucus could cause major organs to malfunction. It will coat and gum up the intestines and stomach, exposing the organs to acids and toxins.

Gluten also disrupts bowel movement and upset the balance in your gut’s flora. This will lead to all sorts of digestive problems – including stomach aches, heartburn, diarrhea, etc. Eating foods rich in gluten triggers an allergic reaction that leads to digestive discomforts.

Harder to Digest

Unlike whole grain bread, sliced white bread is harder to digest. That’s because wheat, the main ingredient in white bread, takes too long to process. Some health experts believe wheat is so hard to digest that pastas could take several weeks to break down. Whole grain bread is much kinder to the gut.

You don’t have to keep eating white bread. There are many healthier alternatives available in your local grocery. When shopping for bread, don’t forget to check the label. Go for those with ingredients that you recognize as the healthy. We recommend breads made from whole oats, whole wheat or whole rye.

Whole wheat bread is perfect for people who prefer the taste and texture of white bread. You can also opt for breads made with a mixture of refined flour and whole-grain flour. Finally, if you must have white bread, choose a brand with enriched fiber.

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