Both white and whole wheat bread are thought to be healthy unless you have celiac disease.
While white bread is nutritious, it pales in comparison to the nutritional benefits that whole wheat bread can offer an individual, which is precisely the reason why it is the preferred choice amongst health-conscious individuals.
Even though these two types of bread are made from wheat berries, also known as the edible part of the wheat kernel, whole wheat bread is prepared by using all the nutritious parts, such as the bran, germ, and endosperm, of the wheat berry, whereas white bread is only prepared by using the endosperm.
Usually, white bread is processed from 60% bleached white flour – the standard used for most wheat products in the United States. The term “60% extraction” refers to what remains after 40% of the original wheat grain is removed, including the most nutrient-rich parts, the bran and germ.
However, in the case of whole wheat bread, they use whole wheat flour which is why it retains the complete nutritional benefits of wheat.
So what are the nutrients that are available in a greater amount in whole wheat bread?
Whole wheat bread has a greater quantity of vitamins B1, B2, B3, and E, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, iron, and fiber in comparison to white bread.
Of the lot, studies have shown that people who eat whole wheat bread will benefit from the nutrient known as “fiber”. In fact, according to a study conducted by Harvard, people who ate whole wheat bread had a lesser chance of heart attacks and strokes while also benefiting their digestive health as well.
With the increase in consumption, people were less likely to deal with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, which means they were also less likely to have to struggle with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In short, you would lead a healthier and longer life.
Women who constantly watch their weight tend to maintain a healthy body weight if they consume whole instead of refined wheat. But that’s not all-the bran which is used in whole wheat bread is considered to be an effective anti-cancer agent in protecting women from breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death amongst women.
While there are several other benefits to eating whole wheat bread, the truth lies in the fact that it is the bran and sperm parts of wheat that actually contribute to most, if not all, of these nutritional benefits.
