Benefits of Eating French Bread

French bread is a good source of folate and iron.

French bread is a good source of folate and iron.

French bread's long, narrow shape, crispy crust and chewy texture set it apart from your typical loaf of white bread. It offers nutritional benefits, such as B vitamins, iron and zinc, but in its traditional form French bread is not a whole-grain product, so it only supplies a small amount of fiber and its carbohydrates impact your blood sugar.


In America it’s called French bread but in France it’s known as a baguette or Vienna bread. The traditional ingredients in a loaf of French bread are yeast, flour, salt and water. Its crispy crust is produced by baking it in a steam oven, although home cooks often recreate the same effect by lightly spraying the dough with water while it bakes. One medium slice of French bread has 185 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1.5 grams of fiber. You’ll also get 7.5 grams of protein, which is 13 percent of a man’s and 16 percent of a woman’s recommended daily intake.


Folate activates enzymes that metabolize amino acids and synthesize DNA. In that role, it's essential for the normal growth of new cells, including red blood cells. It's an especially important nutrient for women who may become pregnant, because it prevents birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Folate may help keep your heart healthy by removing the amino acid homocysteine from your blood; high levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One medium-sized piece of French bread has 147 milligrams of folate, which is 37 percent of an adult's recommended daily intake.


Iron is best known as an element in hemoglobin that helps carry oxygen throughout your body, but it has other essential roles. It's used to produce white blood cells, and iron-dependent enzymes work as antioxidants in your immune system. Men need 8 milligrams and women should consume 18 milligrams of iron daily. One medium slice of French bread has 2 milligrams of iron, which is 29 percent of a man’s and 13 percent of a woman’s daily intake.


French bread is a good source of energy-providing carbohydrates, with one medium slice containing 36 grams of total carbohydrates, which is 28 percent of your daily intake. On the downside, these carbohydrates spike your blood sugar. The glycemic index is a system that rates foods according to the impact of their carbohydrates on blood sugar. A score of 70 or higher means that the food causes a rapid spike in blood sugar. French bread has a glycemic index score of 78, which is a problem if you're managing your blood sugar.

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