Rise to Wellness: 10 Ways Sourdough Bread Benefits Your Health
Today, sourdough bread has become the most popular variety of pastry. You can find it in any form that suits your desires – wholemeal bread, bread with olives, spices, and dried tomatoes, croissants, burger buns, pizzas, and focaccias. And, the benefits of eating sourdough pasties has become a well known fact. However, not many people are aware of what exactly these benefits are. For centuries, bread has been made with just three ingredients – water, salt, and flour. In fact, the original way of making bread was by slowly fermenting flour with water, which is basically the sourdough base. This was an alternative to today’s yeast, which is the main substance that makes bread rise. Unlike yeast, however, sourdough has all the beneficial properties for which other fermented foods are famous. It also gives the pastry this delicious tangy sour flavor that we all know and love. If you want to learn why consuming this type of bread is great for you, continue reading to see the ways sourdough bread benefits your health:
Let’s explore the surprising ways sourdough bread benefits your health and wellbeing
Rise to Wellness: 10 Ways Sourdough Bread Benefits Your Health
#Full of vitamins and minerals
Sourdough bread contains and supplies the body with vitamins E and B and valuable nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, folic acid, selenium, iron, manganese, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. In addition, the lactic acid that is formed during the long fermentation process greatly inhibits the formation of phytic acid. This acid allows minerals and vitamins to be properly and efficiently absorbed. Phytic acid also makes compounds with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. If our body fails to absorb them, it won’t benefit from these important nutrients. During the fermentation of sourdough, however, the phytic acid is broken down, making the minerals available for our bodies to use. Simply put, sourdough is more nutritious exactly because of this reason.
Sourdough bread contains a lot of beneficial vitamin and minerals that our bodies require
#No artificial additives
By eating sourdough bread, you can save yourself a huge amount of artificial enhancers and other additives. They are usually used by the industry to make mass-produced bread soft, tasty and quick to produce. And believe us, there are a lot of enhancers out there. Some of them dangerous to our health if consumed regularly. Authentic sourdough bread is one prepared with flour, salt, water, and a wild sourdough culture (a mixture of natural yeast and lactic acid bacteria). It should not contain anything apart from that, unlike mass-produced options. They are often full of flour-processing agents, emulsifiers, added gluten, preservatives or added enzymes. For some people, removing this chemical cocktail from their diet and replacing it with traditional slow-fermented bread may be enough to solve their digestive problems!
Authentic sourdough is prepared with no added artificial enhancers and additives
#Less gluten
In the process of long fermentation, the bacteria transform gluten and convert it into amino acids. So, gluten does not disappear, but it is transformed to be more easily digestible, even for people who have a gluten intolerance. According to some studies published as early as 2004, slow-fermented sourdough reduces two types of protein in wheat flour that are harmful to people with celiac disease. Another study, which used a mixture of selected sourdough lactobacilli and fungal proteases for prolonged fermentation, reported that dietary treatment with lactobacilli and fungi was an effective method of eliminating gluten toxicity. This, of course, should not be taken as a signal to start consuming bread. Always seek medical supervision and consultation if you suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance!
The fermentation of sourdough makes the gluten in the bread more easily digestible
#Less bloating and gas
Some experts believe that phytic acid causes bloating and gas in people suffering from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). But during the long, slow fermentation of homemade sourdough bread, phytic acid breaks down. This can help with the digestibility of the bread, because, unlike cows, which have a special section in their stomach for fermenting grass, we humans don’t. Phytic acid also contributes to the production of the enzymes needed to break down proteins and starches in our stomachs. The lack of these enzymes can lead to digestive issues. All of this makes sourdough bread a great option for people with digestive issues!
Sourdough bread is a great option for people suffering from digestive issues
#Improves gut flora
Like any properly fermented food, sourdough bread significantly improves the intestinal flora, enriching it with beneficial and essential probiotic bacteria. Therefore, this type of bread is able to solve “unsolvable” problems such as constipation, sluggish and bloated intestines. In today’s world, these are serious problems for many people. The key to getting rid of these issues it to balance your gut flora naturally, and enjoy a well-balanced diet all year round.
Sourdough is a fermented food that enriches your gut with beneficial bacteria
#Regulates blood sugar levels
A team of Canadian scientists studied four types of bread to determine which had the most positive effect on health when it came to carbohydrate metabolism, blood sugar and insulin levels. The results were remarkable – the variety of flour, the way it was milled, and the way the bread was prepared all mattered. Most importantly, however, bread made with slow-fermenting natural yeasts and lactic acid bacteria was absorbed more slowly by the body. This prevents a rapid spike in blood sugar levels after consumption. A possible explanation for this is that the sourdough fermentation process alters the structure of the bread. The body assimilates the starch more slowly, resulting in less pronounced blood sugar and insulin responses.
If you want to keep your blood sugar levels low, consume sourdough bread
#Recommended for diabetics
Sourdough bread is highly recommended for people suffering from diabetes. That is because it has a lower glycemic index than any other bread. In addition, sourdough bread does not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels after consumption. The reason for this is that during the long fermentation process, the yeast eats the sugars in the starch and the bread becomes a more dietary-friendly food for the human body. Therefore, the more work the bacteria in the dough do, the less work is left for our bodies afterwards!
Sourdough has a lower glycemic index compared to other types of bread
#More filling
Did you know that sourdough bread is a lot more filling than all other types of bread? This not only helps prevents overeating on carbs, but also helps you enjoy this delicious creation for longer. Its texture is more stringy, dense and slightly moist than that of yeast bread, which is why it is often described it as ‘chewy’. This is an extremely valuable quality that distinguishes sourdough bread from other types of easy-to-swallow food.
Sourdough bread is actually more filling than other types of bread
#Durable and resistant
Sourdough bread is extremely durable and resistant to the development of pathogenic bacteria. That is due to the acetic acid that is formed during its creation. Thanks to this, sourdough bread ages slowly, and remains fresh for longer! Not only that, but it actually continues to develop its taste, proving that it is in fact a living food with lots of benefits. After all, not many foods get better taste qualities as time goes by.
Sourdough bread is very durable, and it ages slower than other types of bread
#Relaxing activity
And last but not least, there is a lot of joy and a sense of accomplishment when you make your own sourdough bread! It is a process filled with much inspiration, creativity, an extraordinary feeling of inner absorption, peace, quiet, bright thoughts, calm, joy, and patience. And when your home begins to smell of freshly baked bread, the feeling of love, comfort, and family closeness is supreme, we assure you! If you are someone who is feeling stressed, then consider taking on bread making as a hobby. It will not only relax and inspire you, but also give you the most crispy, delicious bread ever!
Making your own homemade sourdough bread is an inspiring and rewarding activity
Now you know which are the main ways sourdough bread benefits your health!
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