Is Bread a Part of Your Healthy Diet?
By Tom Herrin
For many years, lots of people felt a meal was not a meal if it did not include bread. I know at my home when I was a child, there was no thought of serving a meal that did not include bread. Many believed it was the most basic food. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, people began purchasing bread from the grocery store rather than making it. This bread, made from highly processed flour, seems to align with the increased incidence of colon cancer. After many years many people began to shy away from bread and looked for substitutes. As we have learned more about bread, and its many versions, we have also learned that it is possible to find some really healthy options.
Flaxseed May Be a Good Choice
All breads are not alike. One that is considered to be a healthy one is made from flaxseed. It is considered to be really healthy for the heart along the same line as fish oil. Adding it to the diet on a regular basis may serve a good purpose. Many people avoid breads due to their sugar content. Flaxseed breads have a good portion of protein along with being low in sugar. Being low in calories is a big added benefit of this bread.
Choose Multigrain Bread With Discretion
The notion of whole grains is a good thing in breads, but it is important to choose carefully. I often encourage people to be good label readers. This is as important in bread as anything else. If you are into whole grains, you are probably looking for fiber. There are some great whole grain breads and many multigrain breads may fit into this group. It is important to remember, however, that multigrain means there are many different kinds of grains. Some of them may not be whole grains, so read the label to find out just how many of these grains are whole. Good multigrain breads can be a good addition to a diet.
Be a Smart Consumer
It is always important for us to know what we are looking for. With breads, we should know why we are buying it. Bread can be great with a meal, but as mentioned earlier, some of it may do little good and plenty of harm. Choosing bread that has a good supply of fiber, and is relatively low in sugar, may be a really great choice to make a healthy meal. Also remember, you wanting as much flavor as possible in that meal, so you can do this with some good breads.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Huntersville, N.C.