Are you someone who loves gorging on brown bread?
Then you need to read this as we run you through some interesting facts about regular brown bread that are quite surprising!
So, read on before you miss out!
What exactly is brown bread?
Breads are a global staple, right from making the breakfast experience sumptuous to satiating odd hunger pangs, breads taste delightful in every way. However, with the growing inclination towards healthy eating, people are gradually shifting to healthier alternatives and brown bread is looked upon as a healthier option . But is it actually healthy? Brown bread is made with wheat flour. Brown bread retains the germ and bran of wheat flour. This simple brown-coloured bread is made using wheat flour, water, salt, sugar, and yeast. However, there are some good and bad facts you must know before you take a bite.
1. Brown colour does not mean whole wheat
Brown bread may have added colour and may not necessarily be made with whole wheat flour. Sometimes the bread makers use regular refined flour in making bread, which has the same nutritional value as white bread. So always check if the label reads whole wheat bread.
2. Improves digestion
If you are buying genuine brown bread made with whole wheat, replacing white bread with brown bread can help in improving digestion, this is because the presence of dietary fibers in whole wheat helps in improving bowel movement as it works as a natural laxative, which helps in boosting digestion as well as gut health.
3. Lowers chronic inflammation
According to multiple studies, it was found that adding whole grains to the diet helped in reducing chronic inflammation. Brown bread if made with whole wheat or mixed grains is a good source of whole grains, which are high in fibers that help in lowering inflammation.
4. Reduces hypertension
Brown breads made with pure whole wheat grains are great for overall health, it is believed that consuming 1-2 pieces a day can help in releasing a happy hormone known as Serotonin. This hormone is a neurotransmitter that improves brain health and overall wellness. Also the healthy and satiating indulgence of brown bread helps in lowering hypertension by inducing sleep and releasing happy hormones.
5. Too much sodium
Commercially produced breads are often high in sodium and pairing them with patties, salted veggies, bacon or even butter can simply increase the amount of salt in your diet, triggering high blood pressure so check the amount of sodium before you buy that pack of brown bread.
Is it actually whole grains?
Brown bread is usually a healthier alternative to regular white bread, but not every brown bread you eat has 100 percent whole wheat grains. Sometimes commercial and bulk production ends up adulterating the bread with non-whole grain or refined flour as a filler. So, always check the labels and packaging.
Is the colour good for health?
If the bread you are buying looks brown not because of the presence of whole grains but due to added colours, it is important to ensure it is from a reputed baker and good quality food grade colour is used. But in case of added colour, it is difficult to say whether the bread has actual whole grains, so it is best to avoid such a bread.
