Sourdough Bread vs. White Bread: Which is Healthier?

SOURDOUGH BREAD

WHITE BREAD

Sourdough bread is made with a fermented dough that contains wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria. This fermentation process gives sourdough a number of health benefits that are not found in white bread.

The fermentation process in sourdough breaks down the gluten and phytates in the flour, which make it easier to digest for some people. This is especially beneficial for people with gluten intolerance.

Sourdough bread also has a lower glycemic index than white bread. This means that it does not cause blood sugar levels to spike as much. This makes it a better choice for people with diabetes or other blood sugar problems.

Sourdough bread also contains probiotics, which are live bacteria that are beneficial for gut health and after baking the bread offers the gut a good source of prebiotics too.In addition, the fermentation process in sourdough bread increases the levels of certain nutrients, such as vitamins B and E. 

Here are some of the health benefits of sourdough bread:

• Improved digestion: The fermentation process in sourdough bread breaks down the gluten and phytates in the flour, making it easier to digest for some people. This is especially beneficial for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
• Lower glycemic index: Sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index than white bread, which means that it does not cause blood sugar levels to spike as much. This makes sourdough bread a better choice for people with diabetes or other blood sugar problems.
• More nutrients: The fermentation process in sourdough bread helps mitigate phytic acid, improving the bioavailability of certain nutrients, such as minerals, and vitamins B and E.
• Contains probiotics and prebiotics: Sourdough bread contains probiotics, which are live bacteria beneficial for gut health. When baked , sourdough bread offers the gut a type of fiber that feeds the probiotics in your digestive system, releasing more nutrients into your body. It’s an ideal situation for your health.

In contrast, white bread is made with fast acting yeast and refined flour that has been stripped of most of its nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This makes white bread a less healthy option than whole grain sourdough bread.

White bread also has a high glycemic index, which can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Read the ingredient list  to avoid bread that has a high sugar content.

Here are some of the "evils" of white bread:

• Low in nutrients: White bread is low in nutrients because it has been stripped of most of its nutrients during the refining process. This means that white bread is not a good source of fiber, vitamins, or minerals.
• High glycemic index: White bread has a high glycemic index, which means that it causes blood sugar levels to spike quickly after eating. This can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.
• Low in fiber: White bread is low in fiber, which is important for gut health. Fiber helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied after eating, and it also helps to regulate digestion.
• Contains empty calories: White bread contains empty calories, which means that it does not provide any nutritional value. Empty calories are calories that come from foods that are high in sugar, fat, or refined carbohydrates.

It is important to note that not all white bread is created equal. Some brands of white bread are made with enriched flour, which means that some of the nutrients that were lost during the refining process have been added back in. However, even enriched white bread is still not as nutritious as whole grain bread,. But even then if the yeast used does not allow for a long period of fermentation, there will be less bioavailability of some vitamins and minerals, which come with long fermentation.

If you are looking for a healthier bread option, whole grain bread is a better choice. Made with whole grains, thus type of bread retains all of the nutrients that were in the original grain. And it is also a good source of fiber, which can help you to feel full and satisfied after eating.