Eat This Bread
The Best Types of Bread That Do Not Raise Blood Sugar and Help Eliminate Insulin Resistance
Peace be upon you and God’s mercy and blessings.
Directly and without introductions, in most of the articles I publish, I emphasize that a healthy diet should be free from gluten, meaning away from bread, because gluten causes many health problems, in addition to the high percentage of carbohydrates in its composition. Yes, bread has a bad reputation, and in many diets and nutritional systems that focus on weight loss and treating diabetes and insulin resistance, carbohydrate-rich foods such as bread are the first things that should be avoided and eliminated.
However, the truth is that not all types of bread are the same. Processed white bread is not a healthy option, but there are other types of bread that can provide higher nutritional value and better health benefits.
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Whole wheat bread or whole grain bread is better than processed white bread. Whole wheat bread preserves the intact grains during the manufacturing process, keeping different parts such as the germ and bran. Therefore, it has a higher nutritional value compared to bread from which these parts have been removed. It also contains a higher percentage of fiber. The bran and germ of grains are important sources of other nutrients such as protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
As for white bread, the refined grains used in its production lose many essential nutrients due to the removal of bran during processing. Therefore, bread made from refined and processed flour is unhealthy and causes many health problems.
Sprouted whole grain bread is another type of bread in which whole grains are the main ingredient instead of refined grains or flour. The grains are sprouted first and then used to make bread. This adds additional benefits, such as increasing antioxidants in the bread and improving the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as iron. The sprouting process also helps break down starches in the grains, which reduces the effect of bread on raising blood sugar levels.
Flaxseed bread or flax bread is a type of bread made using a mixture of flaxseeds and whole grain flour, making it a healthy bread. Flaxseeds are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Flaxseeds also have many health benefits, including improving cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Eating flax bread does not significantly raise blood sugar levels but rather does so moderately. Flaxseeds also contain antioxidants known as lignans, which support the immune system and body functions.
Oat bread is made with oats as a primary ingredient, along with other ingredients such as whole wheat flour, yeast, and water. This combination is considered healthy, especially when there is no refined or processed flour. The presence of oats means that this bread is rich in magnesium, vitamin B1, iron, and zinc. Oats are also rich in fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Oat bread does not raise blood sugar levels to high levels. Sometimes sugar is added to oat bread to give it a sweeter taste, so it is important to carefully read the nutrition label or ingredient list printed on the bread package and choose oat bread without added sugar.
Sourdough bread is a type of bread made through the natural fermentation of yeast and bacteria. This bread is easy to digest due to its high content of probiotics and prebiotics, which help the intestines improve digestion. Its effect on raising blood sugar levels is relatively low.
But how do you choose healthy bread that is low in carbohydrates and does not raise blood sugar levels? I will now guide you step by step.
The bread you choose should be low in carbohydrates and starches, contain a high percentage of fiber, and be free from added sugar and refined vegetable oils. The nutrition label on the bread package shows the ingredients in detail and should be read carefully.
Whether you are diabetic, have insulin resistance, or are a healthy person, you should choose bread in which the ratio of carbohydrates to fiber is less than five.
Every 100 grams of white bread contains about 50% carbohydrates, meaning half of it is starch. A single loaf weighs about 150 grams, meaning nearly half of it is carbohydrates. Meanwhile, the fiber content is only about 2.5%. In addition, every 100 grams of white bread contains about 5 grams of added sugar. When we say carbohydrates, we mean starches, which are essentially sugars.
Thus, the carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio is 50 ÷ 2.5 = 20, which is a very high ratio. The healthy ratio you should look for is less than 5. Therefore, when you find bread with a carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio of 20, do not buy it and do not consume it.
When I say do not consume white bread, wheat bread, or barley bread, some people ask whether brown bread can be eaten. The answer is always the same: look at the nutrition label. Brown bread contains about 46% carbohydrates and 4% fiber, with 2.5 grams of added sugar per 100 grams. The ratio here is 46 ÷ 4 = 11.5. This is better than white bread, but it is still higher than the recommended ratio of less than 5.
In most countries around the world, when buying bread from supermarkets, you will find many different types in various shapes, and each type has a nutrition label. Do not rush your choice. Good bread is one in which carbohydrates are, for example, 20 grams and fiber is 5 grams, making the ratio 4. This is the type of bread I recommend choosing and buying.
As mentioned earlier, there is oat bread, flaxseed bread, whole wheat bread, as well as other types such as corn bread, lentil bread, keto bread, protein bread, and many others. Do not search for the name of the bread; instead, look for the carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio, which must be less than 5.
There is a type of bread called whole grain bread (bran bread). Its problem is the added sugar, as every 100 grams contains about 5 grams of added sugar. Another issue is that the carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio is higher than 5. Added sugar gives bread a sweeter taste, but it is harmful and raises blood sugar levels.
To live a healthy life, you must improve insulin sensitivity and eliminate insulin resistance. Eating multiple meals throughout the day exhausts the body and the pancreas because blood sugar keeps rising, and the pancreas secretes large amounts of insulin throughout the day.
What matters is not the name of the bread but that the carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio is less than 5. If you have insulin resistance or diabetes and follow these tips, you can improve your health condition, God willing.
If you live in a city or village where healthy bread or bread with a nutrition label is not available, simply reduce the quantity. If you usually eat a whole loaf, start with half a loaf, and after some time, reduce it to a quarter loaf.
As for keto bread, it is an excellent healthy bread. The carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio is about 2, which is an excellent ratio. It contains zero added sugar and also includes a good amount of protein.
Thank you sincerely for your time and follow-up, and may you always be in health and well-being.
I hope I have succeeded in providing benefit to you all.