If you have white bread as an important part of your diet, you should consider switching to whole wheat bread for its health benefits.
The Problem with White Bread
White bread is made from refined flour and studies have shown that its continued consumption could lead to increased risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The former is accepted as the precursor of type 2 diabetes and the latter is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, obesity and high blood pressure.
Health Benefits of Whole Wheat Bread
Whole wheat bread provides your system with fiber and other important nutrients like Vitamin E, selenium , iron, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Magnesium is an important mineral that regulates more than 300 enzymes, most importantly those related to the body’s consumption of glucose and secretion of insulin.
Whole wheat bread is also low in fat and cholesterol.
Additionally, whole wheat bread contains phenolic acids, lignans, phytoestrogens and certain phytochemicals. All these elements help lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Fiber is usually the focus of whole wheat bread. It reduces health risks like constipation, hemorrhoids and colon cancers among others. Fiber has also been proven to be effective in lowering the risk of diabetes. Fiber is also known to reduce LDL cholesterol , or bad cholesterol. When this cholesterol is reduced the risk of heart disease is also reduced
You don’t also have to worry about calories when partaking of whole wheat bread. The other advantage of whole wheat bread is it keeps your stomach full for a longer period of time.
If you have a weight problem, you could go on a whole wheat bread diet to see some results in weight loss. Those who persevere with a whole wheat bread diet could see significant results when it comes to weight loss.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study which highlighted the finding that women who consume high-fiber, whole-grain foods , like whole wheat bread, weigh less than those who depended entirely on food made from refined wheat. The findings were based on a whole wheat diet observed over a consistent period of 12 years.
When choosing whole wheat bread pick one which is wholly made from whole wheat flour. This is to ensure that the important nutrients that come with unrefined flour are preserved. Read the nutrition information on the wrapper. Good whole wheat bread should contain at least 2 grams of fiber per slice.
If you suffer from kidney or gallbladder problems, you may want to consult a doctor first before deciding to go on a diet of whole wheat bread on a long-term basis.
