White Bread: Dead Bread?

Although the appetizing and appealing appearance of this staple 'food' is usually the magnet that trapped most people into the habit of regular consumption of it, but there abound several controversies over the regular ingestion of this item into the body, as studies have described it as ordinary shaft. Actually, different studies have identified the dangers inherent in the continuous consumption of white bread, be it ‘Agege or slice bread’ as it is popularly known in Lagos and other parts of the country. However, it fluffiness has favoured it more than whole wheat bread in almost all homes in Nigeria.

Now, the million dollar question is: Why is white bread, dead bread? Get detail after the cut...

It is not only deficient in nutrition but also dangerous to health as a result of added chemicals. White bread is processed and bleached wheat flour. In processing, the bran (covering) and the germ (embryo) are removed leaving only the middle layer (endosperm).The removed portions contain 76% of the vitamins and minerals and 97% of the dietary fibre. Virtually all vitamin E is lost. The following are lost: Calcium 50%, phosphorus 70%, iron 80%, magnesium 98%, manganese 75%, potassium 50%, copper 65%, thiamine 80%, riboflavin 60%, niacin 75%, pantothenic acid 50%, pyridoxine 50% etc.

The removal of 97% of the dietary fibre creates a big problem for white bread. With little or no fibre in the diet, the colon will be unable to remove waste products from the body. This can lead to cancer of the rectum and colon and Crohn’s disease.

The healthy alternative to consider is wheat bread, which is loaded with vitamins and fibre for the human system. Thus, it’s incumbent on any health conscious person to choose whole grain bread instead of white bread to get more vitamins, minerals and fiber. Whole grain bread also has a lower glycemic index, providing you with a steadier, more sustained source of energy that lowers your risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. Whole-grain bread can't be identified by colour or name -- bread that's brown in color or labeled "wheat bread," "hearty grain" or "9 grain" may not be a whole-grain product at all. Look at the ingredient list when shopping for whole grain bread. The first ingredient must be a whole grain, such as whole wheat, whole oats or whole rye.