Many people choose brown bread over white bread because it is healthier for many reasons. Brown bread generally contains more whole grains than its white counterpart because the flour used to make it has not been refined. Whole grains are important for health because they contain a good dose of fiber. If you have a hard time enjoying brown bread, gradually make the switch until you have a taste for it or choose a whole-grain white bread.
Color
Brown bread gets its color from the unrefined grains used to make it. It is typically made from the bran, the germ and the endosperm portions of the grain. By processing the bread with all three parts of the wheat berry, it remains much higher in nutrients. In contrast, white bread is refined so it loses much of its nutrition even if it is enriched. According to Vegetarian Times, when wheat is processed, 30 nutrients are removed and only five are added back to enriched versions.
Nutrition
When wheat is refined to produce white bread, many of the nutritional benefits it offers are stripped away. Brown bread is nutritional powerhouse of a variety of vitamins and minerals. Choosing brown bread over white bread is a good way to get fiber into your diet. According to Vegetarian Times, you would have to eat eight slices of white bread to get the same amount of fiber from one slice of whole-wheat bread. Adequate fiber in your diet is important for healthy digestion and to keep cholesterol levels low. However, white bread is often higher in calcium than brown bread, reports Keep Kids Healthy. Look for brown breads that are fortified with calcium if you or your child don't get much from other foods or drinks. In addition, brown bread contains many B vitamins, which are important for energy.
Whole Grains
Jjust because bread is brown does not necessarily mean that it contains whole grains. If you want a brown bread that is 100 percent whole wheat, you need to be sure that the ingredients label lists 100 percent whole wheat first, according to Keep Kids Healthy. This indicates that the flour used to prepare the bread has not been refined and that you are getting optimal amounts of nutrients. Avoid breads that are colored with caramel or high-fructose corn syrup.
Health Benefits
According to Vegetarian Times, people who eat three or more servings of whole grains each day cut their risk of heart attack by 35 percent and also had less problems with being overweight and having digestive trouble. This is largely because whole grains are not processed and are higher in nutrients than foods that are refined and packaged. The bottom line is that the fewer ingredients brown bread has, the less processed it is and the better for you.
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