Irish soda bread originated among native North Americas, who used soda ash combined with an acidic ingredient to leaven their bread. In the 1800s, the method became common practice in Ireland, where they used bicarbonate of soda to leaven wheat bread when baker's yeast was scarce. Irish soda bread provides a good source of calories from carbohydrates, although the bread contains a significant amount of sodium.
Components
The U.S. Department of Agriculture bases its nutrition information on a single slice of Irish soda bread that weighs around 74 g. Carbohydrates make up most of that portion, at nearly 42 g, protein provides around 5 g and fat delivers just under 4 g; the rest consists of 22 g of water, almost 2 g of dietary fiber and other nutrients.
Calories
The Department of Agriculture also states that a slice of Irish soda bread contains around 215 calories. About 170 calories come from carbohydrates, while fats offer around 30 calories and protein 15 calories per serving. One slice of Irish soda bread can contribute just over 10 percent of what the average person needs to take in for calories each day.
Vitamins
Several important vitamins are present in significant quantities in Irish soda bread. These include thiamin at 0.2 mg, or over 16 percent of the recommended daily intake -- RDI -- folate at 64 mcg, or right at 16 percent, riboflavin at 0.2 mg, or just over 15 percent, and niacin at 1.7 mg, or around 11 percent RDI. Other vitamins in a serving include B6, B12, D, E, A and K.
Minerals
Irish soda bread also contains dietary minerals. Selenium is the highest at 11.8 mcg per serving, or over 21 percent of the RDI, followed closely by iron at 1.9 mg, or almost 20 percent. Potassium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium are also contained in a serving.
Considerations
While Irish soda bread is a good source of calories from carbohydrates, the baking soda used to leaven the bread contains a substantial amount of sodium: a single slice of the bread contains almost 300 mg, or nearly 13 percent of the recommended daily intake for this dietary mineral. MayoClinic.com indicates that high quantities of sodium in the diet can raise blood pressure and aggravate certain medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease.
Member Comments