Reasons To Eat Bread

 

1) Bread Contains Fibre

Bread contains fibre – an essential nutrient to eat every day. Fibre is essential for keeping your digestive system moving but it can also help in lots more ways too:

It can help you to feel fuller for longer: It takes more work for your body to break down food containing fibre so you may feel fuller for longer. Feeling fuller for longer, may help to reduce your snacking and so decrease your overall calorie intake which may help with weight loss. Try Dinkin’s GI Multigrain bread which is bursting with seeds, full of fibre and has a low GI to keep you fuller for longer.

Fibre helps to manage blood sugars: Foods high in fibre often have a lower glycemic index (GI), a ranking that reflects how foods affect blood sugar. A more stable blood sugar will prevent spikes and dips that can cause you to reach for sugary snacks. Breads with a low GI can also help reduce blood sugar spikes.  Try Dinkin’s Sugar Free Wheaten Bread. It is a yeast free bread and also a sugar free bread and is a useful tool for those looking to reduce their sugar intact or for those suffering from diabetes.

Fibre in bread can help lower cholesterol

Bread will most often contain insoluble fibre which our bodies can’t break down and absorb. This type of fibre goes through us relatively intact, helping to sweep through the digestive system. Dinkin’s breads such as our Multigrain bread, Combicorn bread or our Spelt & Honey Breads contain ingredients that include soluble fibre, like oats or barley. Soluble fibre dissolves into a gel in water and can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

 

2) Bread Has a Prebiotic Effect

This bread health benefit comes courtesy again from fibre, which acts as a prebiotic. Our bodies contain beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. These are sometimes called good gut bacteria, and they protect our digestive systems and bodies from things like harmful bacteria and fungi. Probiotics consume prebiotics, which often come from carbohydrates and fibre and we can get these by eating bread and bread products.

When you eat bread products with fibre and carbohydrates, the probiotics consume those nutrients and continue maintaining your body’s healthy balance. Studies have shown that probiotics may help our immune systems function correctly, address obesity and improve depression symptoms, among other benefits. It’s essential, then, to introduce beneficial bacteria to your system and to feed that bacteria prebiotics, as well and you can do this by eating bread.

 

3) Bread Contains Protein

We are constantly hearing that we should eat more protein and while bread doesn’t contain as much protein as other foods, it is a low- to no-fat way of meeting your daily protein goals. Getting enough protein in your diet can help:

• Reduce your appetite: Protein reduces levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone. That can help you feel fuller while eating less food so helping you to avoid overeating.
• Increase muscle mass: Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass and strength. If you’re trying to lose weight without losing muscle, ensure you consume enough protein.
• Maintain bone health: Eating protein can help maintain bone mass as you age. That prevents fractures and other issues.

Bread as a protein source is often vegan and vegetarian-friendly. If you don’t eat meat, you may have trouble getting protein in your diet. Eating bread and other protein alternatives can help you reach your daily protein goal.

 

4) Bread is full of essential nutrients

The nutritional value of Dinkin’s bread contains essential nutrients and micronutrients, creating even more bread health benefits. Our bread is especially rich in B Vitamins – an essential vitamin for energy production. Try our Combicorn bread, spelt bread or any of our brown breads such as our award winning Great Taste wheaten bread.

• Iron: This trace mineral helps create certain hormones and brings oxygen to our muscles.
• Thiamine: Also known as vitamin B1, thiamine helps our bodies convert nutrients into energy.
• Riboflavin: Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin helps with cell function, fat metabolism and energy production.
• Niacin: Also known as vitamin B3, niacin helps our bodies derive energy from food.
• Calcium: This micro mineral supports our bones and teeth. It also helps blood vessels contract and muscles function.

 

5) Bread Contains Folic Acid

The flour that we use is fortified with folic acid – an essential nutrient during pregnancy for promoting brain health and preventing congenital disabilities in babies and also for preventing pregnancy complications. Our bodies can’t naturally make their own folate, so eating bread rich in folic acid can help us to get this essential vitamin that we might otherwise miss out on.

 

6) Bread Fuels Your Body

Low- and no-carb diet trends leave many people thinking all carbs are bad. But certain carbohydrates are necessary to fuel your body for the day ahead. Carbohydrates are known as a macronutrient, and they’re responsible for giving our bodies energy. Dinkin’s breads such as our Combicorn, spelt bread, multigrain bread are a source of complex carbohydrates and these are better for you because they provide your body with more nutrients. These carbohydrates give you energy that lasts longer as your body works harder to digest them. That makes bread products beneficial meals for starting your day — you may find you have the energy to make it through the usual mid-morning slump onto lunch.

7)Bread Is Low in Fat

Dinkin’s bread products have 0 grams of trans and saturated fats per serving which are considered the ‘unhealthy’ fats. In general, you should try to avoid trans fat completely and cut down on your saturated fats. Luckily, you won’t often find saturated and trans fats in Dinkin’s bread products. As long as you avoid pairing your bread with spreads or fillings that are high in those fats, you can have a low-fat meal.

 

Dinkin’s Multigrain bread and our World Bread Award Winning 4 Seeded Bread are full of nutritious seeds which are a great source of essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are ‘good & healthy’ fats that are vital for good health. Essential fatty acids are used in the body for:

• The formation of healthy cell membranes
• Proper development and functioning of the brain and nervous system
• Proper thyroid and adrenal activity
• Hormone production
• Regulation of blood pressure, liver function, immune and inflammatory responses
• Regulation of blood clotting: Omega-6 FAs encourage blood clot formation, whereas Omega-3 oil reduces clotting. The ideal is to achieve a balance between omega-6 and omega-3 FAs
• Crucial for the transport and breakdown of cholesterol
• Supporting healthy skin and hair

 

As you can see, it makes great health sense to include essential fatty acids into your diet and Dinkin’s bread will give you a great tasting option allowing you to do this.

 

Well, after reading all the above information, if that doesn’t give you enough reasons to eat bread, then we don’t know what will! I think we can all agree the health benefits of eating bread are immense and should be enjoyed on a daily basis. Use your loaf – and get your Dinkin’s bread today!