Sourdough bread is not limited to a specific culture; it is found in many cultures all around the world. The reason for this is simple: sourdough bread is incredibly easy to make on your own using a sourdough starter. They are readily available in the markets, or you can even make your own starter.
Many people like consuming sourdough bread on a regular basis, and often wonder whether regular consumption is beneficial or harmful. If you are wondering the same, let’s talk about the potential health benefits, and any downsides, to the consumption of sourdough bread on a regular basis.
The Advantages
There are many advantages of consuming sourdough bread on a regular basis. Let’s talk about some of the most popular advantages of consuming sourdough bread on a consistent basis.
It’s Got a Higher Nutrition Content Than Regular Bread
One of the biggest reasons why you should consider consuming sourdough bread on a regular basis is because it offers a higher amount of nutrition than regular bread.
Even though sourdough bread is made from common flour that is also used for other breads, you should know that the fermentation process considerably improves the nutritional content within the bread.
However, you should know that the consumption of these nutrients is not fully possible primarily because of a limitation: phytic acid. Phytate, as it is known to most people, is widely regarded as an antinutrient.
Phytates tend to bind to different minerals and they prevent your body from consuming them to the fullest. Even when you consume them, the body is unable to derive the benefits from these minerals.
However, the lactic acid found in the sourdough bread ends up lowering the pH value of the sourdough bread. This also reduces the effectiveness of the phytates, and that is one of the reasons why the phytate content in sourdough bread is much lower when compared with other breads.
Better Digestion
Bread is not as easy to digest, despite what most people think. However, as mentioned above, sourdough bread is much easier to digest because it is created using baker’s yeast. This is primarily because of the prebiotic properties of the sourdough bread.
The fermentation of sourdough bread helps considerably in improving the digestion process, and it also reduces the amount of gluten found in the bread. Gluten is a specific type of protein that is found in most grains. Many people are allergic to gluten, and that is one of the main reasons why you should avoid using it.
It’s important to note that sourdough bread does not degrade the amount of gluten inside completely, it just reduces it by a significant margin.
Helps in Controlling Blood Sugar
Another purported benefit of consuming sourdough bread is that it helps in controlling blood sugar. Researchers have been focusing on the fermentation process of sourdough, and how it modifies the structure of the carb molecules.
This reduces the glycemic index of the bread, and as a result, foods with a lower glycemic index are less likely to cause a spike in a person’s blood sugar levels.
There have been several studies that have been published that show that people who consumed sourdough bread had a lower spike in their blood sugar than others. Their insulin levels were also significantly lower.
The Disadvantages
Like all other foods, consuming sourdough bread in large quantities on a daily basis can be harmful to your health. Here are a few of the downsides to consuming sourdough bread on a daily basis.
It’s a Bread, After All
Breads contain more calories than other foods, and regular consumption is likely to leave you with a heavier feeling. If you are consuming sourdough bread on a daily basis, you should know that it’s going to leave you fuller than other foods that are much healthier.
Obviously, you wouldn’t want to consume this if you are trying to diet consistently and lose some weight. It’s really not a viable option for people who are interested in losing weight because it really will not help you.
Regular Consumption May Leave You Feeling Bloated
Another thing that you should know about consuming this bread on a consistent basis is that it is going to leave you feeling a bit bloated. Regular consumption is generally not advised, especially for people who suffer from pre-existing conditions.
These are just a few things that you should know about consuming sourdough bread on a regular basis.
