Garlic bread is a natural companion to any pasta dish. Traditionally made from a mixture of garlic, butter and Parmesan cheese that’s spread on Italian bread and toasted under the broiler, this simple bread delivers flavor together with nutrients. However, enjoy it in moderation because it can be high in salt and fat.
The major nutrients — carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and water — are all found in garlic bread, but it has less than 1 oz. of water per slice. Nutritional values are based on one loaf of Italian bread spread with a mixture containing four cloves of garlic, one stick of butter and one-quarter cup of Parmesan cheese. A serving size is one slice, or one-tenth of a loaf.
Macronutrients
Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and if they’re complex carbs, they also provide dietary fiber that maintains the intestinal tract and lowers cholesterol. You’ll gain 23 g of carbs and 1 g of fiber from a serving of garlic bread. In addition to providing back-up energy, fat insulates and cushions internal organs and is essential for normal development. One slice of garlic bread has 12 g of fat, but you can cut that in half by choosing low-fat products. The Parmesan cheese and bread contribute 5 g of protein. This means that men get 9 percent, and women get 11 percent, of the recommended daily value of protein.
Vitamins
One slice of garlic bread has all of the B vitamins, containing 20 percent of the recommended daily value of folate, 17 percent of thiamin, 12 percent of niacin, 8 percent of riboflavin and 3 percent of vitamins B-6 and B-12. Thiamin, niacin and riboflavin convert food to energy, ensure healthy skin and keep the nervous system working. Folate, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 reduce your risk of developing heart disease by removing homocysteine from the blood. Thanks to the butter and Parmesan cheese, you’ll also get two important antioxidants: 10 percent of the daily value of vitamin A and 3 percent of vitamin E.
Minerals
When food provides 20 percent or more of the daily value of a nutrient, it’s considered to be high in that nutrient. That means that garlic bread is a good source of the antioxidant selenium because one slice provides 24 percent of the daily value. It also gives you three minerals important for bone strength. You’ll get 7 percent of the daily value of calcium, 10 percent of phosphorus and 3 percent of magnesium. Calcium and phosphorus combine to form the mineral component of your bones, while magnesium is an important part of the protein matrix that supports calcium and phosphorus. Men gain 16 percent of the daily value of oxygen-carrying iron, while women get 7 percent. Garlic bread also delivers 5 percent of the recommended daily value of zinc. Zinc regulates growth and neurological development, and it strengthens your immune system. Finally, be aware that one slice has 25 percent of the daily value of sodium.
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