Whole Wheat Bread Decoded

OK so all these “healthy” people always opt to eat whole wheat bread and so when I first started eating healthy I joined the bandwagon, blindly.  I thought if they are doing it, it must be good so I was going to eat whole wheat bread, makes sense right? Well it does make sense if you make educated choices and learn the reason why it is better for you. 

While trying to find the best bread to eat, I came across a lot of very useful information about carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates are very important especially to diabetics because having the better ones assist with regulating your blood sugar so here is what I found:

There are two different types, complex and simple carbohydrates.  In a nutshell, complex carbohydrates are the better ones because they still have all the natural elements and our body recognizes them and digests them properly.  These carbohydrates keep you full for a longer period of time.  A simple carbohydrate DOES NOT contain all the fiber, healthy oils, vitamins, minerals and any natural elements because it has been altered by a machine so that it has a longer shelf life.  Our body does not recognize “foreign” objects and once these products lose their natural elements our body considers them a “foreign” object therefore unable to digest it the “natural” way.    

I found that the best bread to get are the ones that say 100% whole wheat, but the best way to tell is by looking at the nutrition label.  The first ingredient should be whole wheat flour or 100% whole wheat, these are the best ones for you.  Do not pick the breads with ingredients like unbleached enriched wheat flour or wheat flour because those have been processed.  Remember, manufacturers will try to trick you by placing the word wheat in there so that you can happily eat the bad stuff thinking it is good for you.

So here is what I look for when I buy my bread: 

I read the nutrition label to make sure the first ingredient is Whole Wheat Flour, 100% whole wheat  or stone ground whole wheat.

I go for the breads that have a high fiber content

I always check my serving size

I choose breads that are lower in sodium

I will I hope this helps you make better decisions about your bread and please keep in mind that because it is better for you, it does not mean you can go and have the entire loaf.