Is Your Bread Healthy? 6 Ingredients To Check Before Buying

Bread is the staple diet for many people, as they are easily available and provides a good satiating option for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As per reports, consuming bread increases one’s serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps suppress cravings, improves mood and sends signals to your brain that you are content with your meal. One can only avail these benefits if they consume the right quality of bread. These are the 6 factors that one should keep in mind before purchasing bread.

1. No excessive sugar content- Sugar is used in bread preparation for the yeast preparation which acts as a leavening agent. Due to this reason, while buying bread, one should check the packet’s ingredients to see how much-added sugar is present in it in any form.

2. Carefully read the ingredients- There is a reason that the customers are advised to check the ingredients mentioned on the bread’s packet before purchasing it. There are different types of bread, white, multigrain or brown bread. Amongst these types, one should check the components list on the bread made from white flour. In a few cases, the manufacturers use flour other than the one mentioned on the packet, so that it appears to be more tasty.

3. Check the salt quantity- People should also be concerned about the excessive quantity of salt used in the bread’s production. Having excessive sodium is detrimental to one’s health and therefore, one should limit his salt intake to not more than 100 to 200 milligrams.

4. Avoid bread with preservatives- Preservatives are used extensively in foods to enhance the taste and texture of foods and keep them fresh. For good health, these components should be avoided. Preservatives can transform into carcinogen agents (substances causing cancer).

5. Check Expiry date- Always purchase bread that has not yet passed its expiry date. Doing this will ensure that the bread you eat is safe, fresh, soft and healthy.

6. Check fibre content- Fibre elements are lost during bread’s processing which makes it no longer healthy to eat. People should check the amount of fibre in the bread’s packet. Consuming things without fibre, especially daily bread, can cause constipation.