If you’re a smart consumer, you realize that not all items at the supermarket are worth buying. This tiny bit of knowledge also applies to purchasing bread. Not many shoppers are conscious about the quality of the product that they purchase; as long as it’s economical and looks/tastes yummy, many shoppers think that it might be worth placing in the shopping cart. However, if you’re a health-conscious individual, you have to choose more carefully. Here’s how to purchase the best bread in the supermarket.
Look for 100% Whole Grain or 100%Whole Wheat
If you find a load of bread which says 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat, you need not look further. There are bakery mixes that claim to be whole grain or whole wheat, but you don’t know the actual percentage of the grain or wheat. Don’t settle for anything less; entire wheat bread has plenty of healthy fiber. It’s also low in cholesterol and fat. What’s more, it comprises significant quantity of protein. Additionally, it has vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Consuming only whole grain or whole wheat reduces your risk for heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and strokes. It may even protect you from specific types of cancer.
Rye Bread Isn’t Always the Best Choice
When you look at the label carefully, each piece includes unbleached enriched flour, water, and rye flour. The frequent rye bread contains just 1 gram of fiber per piece as it is not really 100% whole grain. They are not really worth your cash if they’re actually low in fiber. Fantastic bread should have three or more g of fiber each serving/slice.
Pick Coarse Bread
Smooth-looking slices may seem more appetizing, but they don’t have much to say when it comes to nutritional value. Better go for bread with coarser texture; every piece has its nutrients packaged and kept.
There are certain tastes that need lots of sugar in the mix. These ought to be avoided. You will find whole grain breads with lots of sugar. Check the label; if sugar is one of the first four ingredients on the listing, then you should look for one more bread type.
Multi-grain Is Just Good When It’s Whole Grain
Bread that comprises say, ten different grains is not good if not one of those is considered whole grain.
Always Take a Look at the Serving Size
Besides the wheat content, it’s also wise to take the dosage size under account. Don’t simply depend on the dimensions of the slices; check out the weight indicated on the tag. Compare this with different breads available from the aisle.
Avoid Too Much Salt
Bread wants salt for flavor and yeast management, but it doesn’t require too much. Too much sodium may make it unhealthy. Ideally, there should just be 200 mg or less per bread slice.
Some supermarket breads may also contain improvers which aren’t great for health in the long run. Because of this, it’s always good practice to read labels and scrutinize the components that make each and every bread.