Sourdough Bread: Healthiest Bread at the Bakery

Sourdough bread is the healthiest among all bread types including those with seeds. It contains probiotics, lactic acid, and stays fresh much longer than regular bread. If you are going to eat bread then go with the healthier and tastier choice.

The Anatomy of Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread is made out of whole wheat flour and water, no oils or sugar. Sometimes, bakers add rye flour which makes it even greater since sourdough with rye flour helps lowering your sugar level. Main difference between the regular white bread and sourdough is the fermentation process.

Simply put; the natural fermentation process helps the sourdough maintain its nutrients and you do not have to add any preservative to increase its shelf life. The hidden treasure comes from the sourdough starter.

What is a Sourdough Starter?

Sourdough starter is made by combining equal levels of water and wheat flour. The mixture is maintained by feeding fresh flour and water regularly. After a minimum of 7 days, it is ready to be used in your bread recipes. No preserved dry yeast is necessary when sourdough starter is used as leavening agent.

It is also a skill and a degree of coolness to have your own sourdough starter. It does two things;

• Proves that you are better than the next baker,
• And your bread tastes so good and crunchy!

Health Benefits of Sourdough Bread

Can Gluten Intolerance Eat Sourdough Bread?

Both sourdough and rye are considered low-gluten breads. If you are on a reduced-gluten diet then it is a perfect match. People with gluten intolerance should check with their doctor first before eating sourdough bread. This is because there are different types and levels of gluten intolerance as celiac and various wheat allergies.

Is Sourdough Bread Good for Your Gut?

Number 1 reason behind gut disease is your eating habits. Too much protein in your diet will make you a candidate for gut disease. Most people think of bread only in terms of carbohydrates but it also contains protein. However, sourdough bread contains natural probiotics due to its unique fermentation process.

Probiotics in Sourdough

Sourdough bread’s fermentation process contains lactobacillus acidophilus; a kind of probiotic helps to fight gut disease. This is a beneficial bacterium present in our intestines. It produces lactic acid which breaks down the lactose found in dairy products we eat.

Lactobacillus acidophilus benefits:

• Good against gut disease
• Promotes weight-loss
• Reduces cold flu symptoms
• Helps to lower bad cholesterol

Lactobacillus acidophilus is also found in food products such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, and miso.

What’s the difference between sourdough bread and regular bread?

Most breads, especially the sliced toast breads, are made with sweeteners, oils, and worst of all industrial dried yeast. Therefore, they contain high levels of fat and sugar. Traditional sourdough bread is made only by water and wheat flour. No additives, no sugars, or oils are necessary for the production of this tasty bread. As you guessed, the end result is a much healthier bread that is low on sugar, oil, and gluten. It is best not to eat bread at all if you are trying to lose weight but sourdough is a better choice if you are on a diet.

In Conclusion

Sourdough bread is not new, in fact it is dating back to 5,000 BC. It is getting really popular since people started to realize its health benefits and also because of the irresistible crispy taste. Our ancestors would be amazed to see their everyday bread turned into this enticingly crispy and healthy sourdough bread mania at bakeries today.