White Vs. Wheat Bread

Please tell me you're not still eating white bread! White bread is basically the nutritional equivalent of refined sugar. The main difference is that most white bread is "enriched." This means that after removing all of the good stuff from the wheat berry to create white bread, they add a little bit back. "Enriched" bread is much less "rich" with vitamins and minerals than 100% whole wheat bread. White bread is also missing fiber, which is critical for digestion and which aids in fat loss. 100% whole wheat bread has more fiber, protein, folic acid, zinc, iron and chromium (which regulates blood sugar).

Here is a quick summary of the common types of bread, listed from least to most healthy:

White "enriched bread": bread made with wheat that has been stripped of all nutritional value and fiber, and then bleached to make it pretty and white looking. Yuck!

Wheat bread: bread made with some whole wheat flour, but it often includes white flour, too. Whole wheat should at least be the first ingredient.

100% whole wheat bread: this bread only uses 100% whole wheat. There will not be white flour in this bread. You also won't see the words "bleached" or "enriched." This is the best bread.

Other things to look for in your bread:

- No high fructose corn syrup

- Sugar not one of the first ingredients

- Avoid the word "enriched"

- A fiber to calorie ratio of at least 3 g fiber per 100 calories

Eating 100% whole wheat or 100% whole grain bread is a great way to slow that blood-sugar roller coaster and reduce sugar cravings. Buy a loaf today.

And, in case you want to go artisan, try this 100% whole wheat tortilla recipe!