Sourdough bread is a delicious, nutritious addition to any diet, but is sourdough bread good for you?
Sourdough is made by fermenting a dough of flour and water with a homegrown starter over several hours or even days, which gives it a sour taste. The fermentation process also allows the bread to be digested more easily than regular bread.
Sourdough bread has been around since ancient times, but recently it has become popular again as people are learning more about its health benefits.
In this article, we shed some light on what sourdough is and what are the benefits of sourdough bread!
What Is Sourdough Bread?
Sourdough bread is made from a starter culture, flour, and water that's left to ferment for several days. The fermentation makes the bread easier to digest and more nutritious than some other types of bread.
Sourdough bread is made using your own culture of naturally-occurring yeasts, which create the unique and tangy flavor, as well as sourdough’s health benefits.
Artisan Sourdough Bread Kit
Note: If you’re a beginner, you can use a sourdough kit to get started making your own sourdough bread at home! You can also use our San Francisco Sourdough Starter Culture. It’s perfect for beginners—it’s a very forgiving culture and one of the easiest to work with!
Sourdough bread is a great way to get in your daily dose of prebiotics.
See Related: Easy Sourdough Pancakes Recipe
Why Is Sourdough Beneficial To Your Health?
Is sourdough bread healthy? Yes, it is! There are many reasons why sourdough bread is good for you:
1. Prebiotics Help Keep Your Digestive System Healthy
Sourdough bread is a prebiotic food. It helps to stimulate the growth of good bacteria in your gut, which is essential for a healthy digestive system and overall health.
2. Reduce the Effects of Gluten Intolerance
Sourdough can also help reduce the effects of gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity by breaking down some of the gluten before you eat it. This is because sourdough contains a variety of beneficial bacteria, which help break down the gluten molecules in the flour and make them easier for your body to digest.
3. Sourdough Contains Many Vitamins and Minerals
Sourdough also contains many vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health, including:
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Vitamin B-12 (which helps keep your brain functioning properly),
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Magnesium (which helps muscles to work properly),
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Potassium (which regulates levels of fluid inside our cells),
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Calcium (which contributes to stronger bones),
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Zinc (which helps fight off infections like colds),
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Iron (to make hemoglobin in the body, which transports oxygen throughout your body), and
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Folate (which prevents birth defects during pregnancy).
These nutrients help keep your body in tip-top shape.
4. Sourdough Has A Lower Glycemic Index
Another sourdough bread benefit is its much lower glycemic index than regular white bread, meaning that it doesn't spike blood sugar as much as other types of bread. This makes it an ideal choice for anyone who suffers from diabetes or obesity, because it will keep them fuller for longer and help them avoid spikes in their blood sugar levels.
5. A Great Source of Antioxidants
Sourdough bread is rich in antioxidants. These compounds help protect our bodies from free radical damage, which can lead to chronic disease and even cancer.
The production process for sourdough bread involves fermenting the dough with a particular type of bacteria called Lactobacillus. This process creates a variety of antioxidant compounds in the finished product that is not present in ordinary bread.
6. It Has a Higher Concentration of Resistant Starch
Sourdough also has a higher concentration of resistant starch than regular bread. This type of starch resists digestion by your body, but still helps you feel full after eating it. This property makes sourdough an excellent choice for people who want to lose or maintain weight.
7. Sourdough Contains Serotonin
Serotonin is a mood-boosting chemical that helps us feel happy and relaxed. If you tend to have low serotonin levels in your brain, eating sourdough bread can help raise those levels, resulting in you feeling happier and more comfortable.
So next time you want to boost your mood or feel happier while eating something delicious, try some sourdough!
In addition to these nutritional benefits, sourdough has been shown to reduce blood pressure and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels as well.
Conclusion: Is Sourdough Bread Good for You?
Sourdough bread is truly a wonder! As explored in this article, sourdough bread offers multiple health benefits to those who enjoy it. Its all-natural content makes it an excellent food for almost anybody. Sourdough bread is a great source of prebiotics, nutrients, and high-quality calories.
