Whole Meal Versus White Bread

There has always been debate on whether white bread or whole wheat bread is better for your health. Here are some facts to help you draw your own conclusions

Traditional whole wheat bread is made with fresh stone ground flour, water, salt and yeast. Nothing else is required, and the taste and texture of these breads is excellent. The stone ground flour contains all the components of the wheat grain - endosperm, fiber husk and wheatgerm - so the bread is jam-packed full of complex carbohydrates, natural vitamins and minerals, phytonutrients, and is free of trans fat and saturated fat.

White bread is made from flour which has been stripped of it's fiber and nutrients, then bleached. Industrial bread, the kind you buy at the supermarket, can contain any of the approximately 60 approved chemicals used in the industrial making of flour and bread. These chemicals help to make bread that looks bone white, has an extended shelf life, and entrains an abnormal amount of air - making it appear soft, light and fresh. The light airy feel is not an indication of freshness - it merely allows the baking company to sell you a loaf which contains more air than substance.

Whole wheat bread contains larger particles of dietary fiber and this is effective in decreasing the rise of blood sugar after eating. White bread is stripped of fiber, containing only the endosperm of the wheat grain. This lack of fiber can lead to digestive malfunction, and also allows the body to absorb sugar rapidly.

Eating too much bread is often wrongly perceived as a major cause of weight gain - but whole wheat bread can be a good way to make yourself feel full without filling up on fat or sugar. What really adds on the pounds is what we put on the bread. More and more people are realising that traditional whole wheat bread is so delicious that they have no need of robust spreads and topping - just a light spread of butter or margarine is all that is needed.

Whole wheat bread contains more fiber and nourishment than white bread, and can be just as soft and delicious. It is growing in popularity as people start waking up to the fact that processed and chemical laden foods are not beneficial to their health.