Bread is often the first thing to go when people want to improve their diets for weight loss or better health, but is it necessary to leave the loaves behind when you start a healthier lifestyle? While it’s a good idea to stay away from the processed white stuff, not all bread is created equal. Read on to discover four of the healthiest kinds of bread and how to enjoy them on any diet.
Whole Wheat Bread: Supports Heart Health
Many people struggle to incorporate enough fiber into their diet, and whole wheat bread is a great way to get more. Fiber helps prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. The fiber content of whole wheat bread also makes it a smart choice for your waist line. Whole wheat is digested more slowly than refined white bread, which prevents insulin spikes that lead to weight gain.
Artisan Bread: A Healthy Indulgence
If you don’t want to compromise taste for health, artisan bread can give you the best of both worlds. Artisan bread is bread the way it was meant to be. Baked by a local bakery or a supplier like Klosterman Baking Company, these breads are hand-crafted and use natural, quality ingredients like cane sugar, sea salt, fresh butter and flour. Many artisan breads are also organic.
Quinoa Bread: Free of Wheat and Gluten
If have celiac disease or a wheat allergy, you might think that your days of enjoying delicious bread are over. However, there are gluten-free breads that deliver on both health and taste. Quinoa bread is made from an ancient gluten-free grain that lends a chewy texture to bread and other baked goods, which makes it popular in gluten-free baking. Like whole wheat bread, quinoa bread is also whole grain and fiber-filled.
Cloud Bread: Low in Carbohydrates
A low-carb or ketogenic diet doesn’t mean you have to give up bread. Made with only eggs, cream cheese and cream of tartar, cloud bread is an easy-to-make bread that skips the grains entirely. It has a soft, fluffy texture and is also sturdy enough to hold up to your favorite sandwich toppings. Cloud bread is low in both carbohydrates and calories, which makes it perfect for anyone who is watching the scale.
Whether you’re watching your weight, dealing with a food intolerance or just trying to eat healthier, you can fit any of these delicious types of bread into your diet.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her three-year-old husky, Snowball.