Wise Rule – Choose Brown not White

When it comes to nutrition, it’s our daily habits that make the difference. As I often remind my clients – opt for brown bread, not white, and you’ll be well on the way to losing weight and improving your general health.

White bread is nutrient depleted

Whole wheat is an important source of nutrients, but the refining process removes the best parts. Eating too much whole wheat is not particularly good for your health either, but at least it contains fibre, minerals and vitamins. White bread, on the other hand, is made from white flour, which has been stripped of the bran (B vitamins and trace minerals) and the germ (antioxidants, vitamin E and healthy fats), so that only the nutrient-poor endosperm remains – which is mainly starch.

Don’t be fooled by breads (or cereals, or rice) that are ‘enriched with vitamins and minerals’.  Re-adding synthetic nutrients cannot replace the unique balance that nature intended. It is like someone steeling 100 euros from you and then giving you 2 euros back.

Our daily bread

The staple food of a bygone era has been replaced with a product of that offers little in the way of nutrition and may be having a negative effect on your health – because of its effect on blood sugar levels. Opting for bread made from whole wheat (or wholemeal) flour is a better alternative, but bread (or crackers), made from ancient varieties of wheat, like spelt, kamut, or buckwheat are an even healthier option.

A couple more tips

• Always read the ingredient label–many whole-wheat breads are loaded with sugars, preservatives and other unnecessary additives.
• Don’t make white flour a major part of your diet. Eventually, your body will miss the various nutrients that were processed out. Opt for cakes and biscuits made from whole-wheat flour too.
• Don’t make whole wheat a major part of your diet, either. Save room for whole grains such as; oats, rice, corn, buckwheat and millet too.

Lastly, don’t worry about what the kids will say. If you don’t get them used to white stuff, they won’t miss it – and chances are they might prefer the healthy option anyway!