Best Reasons Why Sourdough Bread Is So Healthy

I have discussed bread in the past, but not sourdough bread specifically. This bread has become especially popular in recent years and for good reason. Not only is this bread delicious, but might offer a variety of health benefits. Sourdough bread is also easy to make and many people have taken to making their own bread at home.

However, what is sourdough bread and how is it different from any other kind of bread? We’ll explore this question next.

What Is Sourdough Bread?

Sourdough bread is one of the oldest breads human civilization has ever created. This kind of bread does not require yeast like other types of bread, at least not in the traditional sense. Instead, this bread rises via the yeast and bacteria that is found naturally in flour. The bacteria in this bread is actually the same as the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt.

Most people prefer to buy a starter culture to make this bread. This is because the starter culture already has everything you need to start making the bread without any issue. Beyond the starter culture and a bit of water and flour, there is nothing else in this bread.

That means there’s no sweeteners, salt, or anything else. You can’t get much more natural than that. The sourdough bread, instead, gets its flavor from the yeast itself. As the yeast begins to grow, it produces lactic acid. This lactic acid creates a tangy, if not a little sour, taste which sourdough bread is known for.

This lactic acid not only contributes to the taste of the bread. It also kills any bacteria that might otherwise interfere with the bread’s development. The only bacteria left behind is the good kind known as Lactobacillus. So, now that you know the basics of sourdough bread, what should you know about its benefits?

What Are The Benefits of Sourdough Bread

There are many health benefits of sourdough bread. One of the first benefits has to do with the previously mentioned Lactobacillus bacteria. As mentioned before, this is the same bacteria found in yogurt. Even in sourdough bread, this bacteria offers the same benefits as it does in yogurt, namely helping to improve digestion.

This is because of how this bacteria can supplement your gut microbiome. By doing this, more nutrients are absorbed from your food in your gut. Digestive problems such as bloating can also be reduced by consuming enough of this good bacteria. Of course, consuming too much might be irritating to your gut microbiome.

Another benefit of this bread comes from the yeast. Yeast loves to eat sugar as it ferments, and since there is no added sugar in sourdough bread, the only sugar available is the naturally occurring glucose. This is great news for diabetics because this bread won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar.

Those who are sensitive to gluten may be able to enjoy sourdough bread as well. This is because of how much of the gluten in the bread is broken down during the fermentation process. Keep in mind, however, that this does not mean that the bread is gluten-free as there is still some gluten present.

The Details

Sourdough bread is also full of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, potassium, and folate. Folate is important to help your body create DNA. Potassium is very important for electrical impulses throughout the body, especially when it comes to the functions of the heart and the nervous system.

This is not to mention that this bread is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants may have implications for preventing the growth and development of cancer cells in the body which often form from an excess of inflammatory free radicals. These free radicals are also partially responsible for aging and inflammatory conditions. Antioxidants may be able to fight off the effects of these free radicals.

With all these benefits, you might be wondering if there are any downsides to sourdough bread. One of the downsides, especially when making this bread at home, is that your starter culture can become contaminated. You can usually notice if this has happened if your culture looks fuzzy or had green or black spots. This contamination can be harmful, so be sure to throw away your starter culture if you think anything is wrong with it.

Another downside is that sourdough bread can be time-consuming to make. However, if you can manage to put enough time aside to make this bread, you’ll find that it will be worth the effort.