While watching Live to 100: Secret of the Blue Zones on Netflix I was beyond intrigued to learn how people in certain areas live to a very healthy 100, and in droves! I always believed eating clean is the best solution. And I know eating processed foods latent with preservatives, cannot be good for our bodies. It was when I watched this Documentary that I knew sourdough had to be the healthier option!
Sourdough Nutrition Information An average one slice of sourdough bread (about 50 grams) contains:
Calories: 185
Protein: 2 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Carbohydrates: 36 grams
Fiber: 1 gram
Sugar: Less than 1 gram
Sourdough bread is an excellent source of:
Calcium
Potassium
Magnesium
Folate
Niacin
Sourdough bread is also an excellent source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that antioxidants like the peptides found in sourdough can lower the risk for certain types of cancer, signs of aging, or chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Potential Health Benefits of Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. However, the same qualities that make sourdough bread so healthy can also create complications for people with certain medical conditions. Research has found a number of potential health benefits to eating sourdough bread: General Body Functions Sourdough bread is particularly rich in nutrients that the body can easily absorb. This is due to the way that the lactic acid bacteria in the bread interacts with these nutrients. These bacteria destroy certain types of acid commonly found in other types of bread, which increases the availability of nutrients like folate, potassium, and magnesium. Your body needs folate to divide cells and make DNA and other genetic materials. Potassium also aids in the function of your cells. It regulates your heartbeat, helps your nerves and muscles function properly, and is necessary to make proteins and metabolize carbs. Magnesium regulates your muscle and nerve function, controls blood sugar and protein levels, and helps make protein, bones, and DNA.
Disease Prevention The lactic acid bacteria are also responsible for increased antioxidants in sourdough bread compared to other types of bread. Antioxidants protect your cells from damage that cause serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
Lower Blood Sugar Levels Eating sourdough bread may help you keep your blood sugar levels more stable than if you were to eat white bread. The bacteria that helps form sourdough also have a unique effect on the starch in the bread.
It changes the structure of the bread molecules — making your body absorb them slower, which lowers the bread’s glycemic index. This means that your insulin levels will not spike as high after eating a slice of sourdough bread as they would after eating white bread.
Improved Digestive Health Sourdough bread may be easier to digest than white bread for some people. According to some studies, sourdough bread acts as a prebiotic, which means that the fiber in the bread helps feed the “good” bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria are important for maintaining a stable, healthy digestive system. Sourdough is also lower in gluten than other forms of bread. It appears that the acid in the bread degrades gluten. As a result, people with gluten intolerance may find that sourdough is easier on their stomachs.