Bread gets a bad rap these days. I've almost stopped eating it myself. Somewhere in the mix of the anti-gluten trend and all those carb-hating diets, eating bread has practically become the new smoking. But is it really that terrible? I've been eating it again lately, and amazingly enough, I am suffering no terrible health effects! So if you miss bread, too, let's talk about those bad bread myths -- and how you can eat your bread and stay healthy, too.
Myth 1: Bread is empty calories. It really depends on what kind of bread you're talking about. Bread that's loaded with whole grains (look for "100 percent whole grain/wheat") is full of bran fiber and vitamins. It's heart-healthy, too.
Myth 2: Gluten is bad for you. Gluten is harmful for people with celiac disease and wheat allergies. For the rest of us? Gluten isn't harmful, but it doesn't have benefits unless it's in whole wheat/grain bread. I think it's all about moderation. I'll have bread a couple times a week. But if you're eating bread all the time, or if the rest of your diet is crappy, that may not be so great for you.
Myth 3: Bread makes you fat. Again, it's about what kind, and how much. In fact, a 2003 study showed that women who ate more whole grains weighed less than women who ate fewer whole grains.
Myth 4: Bread causes tummy trouble. You name it, bread's at fault, right? Well, not if it's whole wheat. Bran fiber actually improves digestion.
Myth 5: Bread causes joint inflammation. If your bread contains seeds and whole grains, those Omega 3s can help fight inflammation.
I think you can see where I'm going with this. The key to making bread a healthy part of your diet is going for those whole grain/wheat breads and eating in moderation.
Have you stopped eating bread?
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