Last night some of my closest girl friends in Dubai organized an amazing birthday party on the beach for one of our friends.
Everyone brought a dish, so we had plenty of food. And since all the women except me were Turkish, we had the best spread of mezzes. Truly a plant-based evening.
One thing many of us were excited about, pictured here, is my friend Funda’s sourdough bread. She makes the most amazing bread. She’s been using the same starter since lockdown – maybe longer. Crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, with beautiful olives. It is carb perfection.
Carbs and Health: The Question Many Health Coaches Hear!
As we sat down to eat the beautiful feast, one of my friends somewhat jokingly asked, “Dear Coach, are we allowed to eat bread?”
While we joke, it is a common question when it comes to carbs and health. Can I eat bread? Is bread healthy?
And the answer is, it depends.
What Is In Your Bread?
If you have conditions like celiac, IBS or are gluten intolerant, we know that you need bread without gluten and sometimes even yeast can be an issue. But even if you don’t have those conditions, it is critical to understand what is in bread.
Bread does not have as many nutrients as many other fresh foods. However, most people can enjoy healthy bread in moderation.
What do I mean by healthy bread?
What Types of Bread Are Healthy?
For starters (no pun intended), the healthiest breads are made with whole grains. Whole grains are higher in nutrients and fiber. This helps us with digestion.
Some grains have been proven to reduce the risk of some chronic conditions.
Bread is not the silver bullet, and you should not go crazy on it, but whole grains can be healthy.
Read Your Ingredients
As with all packaged foods, read your bread ingredients carefully.
If you don’t know what an ingredient means or the list of ingredients is endless, put that item down. The fewer the ingredients, the better.
You’ll see a lot of “sugar-free” breads or “protein” breads. Read the label. It’s still a grain, and still a carb that could increase your blood sugar. All the more reason to make your own bread.
If you want to include bread in your diet, eat it in moderation. Maybe not every day. Maybe only on a special occasion. Or, find a bread that suits your diet and lifestyle, and eat a small amount daily as part of a balanced diet.
Carbs and your Health: What Works For You?
If you don’t want to eat bread, that is ok too. The beauty is that the choice is yours. You are in charge here.
It’s my job as a health coach to help you learn more about your body, your food and what works for you.
Did we eat bread last night? We most definitely did. And while I know my friend uses the best quality whole grain flour she can find, I can feel it in my body. I am not bloated or feel like I have a rock in my stomach when I eat her bread. I still feel great the next day. My only reason to be sluggish today is because we laughed and danced under the moonlight until after midnight.
Your Personal Nutrition Plan
If you’d like some support on your health and nutrition, book your free health breakthrough session with me and let’s talk!
