Is Sourdough Healthier Than Normal Bread?
You may have seen more and sourdough bread available in supermarkets and bakeries in recent times. Partly that is due to its slightly different tangy flavour that a lot of people prefer. But also there is a lot of research to show that it is actually a much healthier option than other types of bread. So is sourdough healthier than normal bread?
What’s the difference between sourdough and normal bread?
Bread recipes vary, but traditional bread uses some sort of commercial/fresh yeast. As well as flour you need some/a combination of salt, oils, eggs, milk and sweeteners. Obviously some traditional bread is better than others but in the supermarkets where cost is key you can bet a lot of these extra ingredients are cheap and highly processed.
Sourdough uses just 3 ingredients; flour, salt and the ‘sourdough starter.’ This is a fermented mix of flour and water containing a lot of bacteria and yeast. In sourdough the starter is the rising agent. It takes longer to ferment this way, hence why it’s not as cheap and commercially viable for mainstream supermarkets, but gives you a far more natural product.
Sourdough and Digestion
Sourdough is much more easily digested than bread made with baker’s yeast. The fermentation process breaks down some of the gluten and leads to less bloating. A lot of people find gluten quite hard to digest and end up feeling overfull and uncomfortable after eating it. This shouldn’t be the case with sourdough.
Absorption of Nutrients
Bread contains nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and iron. However regular bread has relatively high levels of phytates/phytic acid. These basically stop you absorbing these nutrients as effectively.
Sourdough, unlike other bread, contains lactic acid. Lactic acid counteracts the levels of the phytates, allowing you to absorb the nutrients much more easily. The lactic acid is also responsible for higher levels of antioxidants in sourdough.
Prebiotic Qualities
The fibre in the sourdough acts as a prebiotic. This basically means the fibre in the bread helps feed the good bacteria in your intestines. So it can have an overall positive impact on your gut microbes and gut health. Which not only should make you feel better but will have a positive impact on weight loss as well. See my previous article of gut bacteria.
WARNING
Despite the points above, a word of warning. Sourdough is still bread. With the same calories and the same carbohydrates as normal bread. So the fact that it is healthier should not give you the green like to eat loads of it, particularly if you are trying to lose weight. There are other carbohydrates with far more nutrients, far lower GI, less calories and less carbs than sourdough. Such as beans, lentils, sweet potatoes, pearl barley, bulgur wheat to name a few. These should always be your carbohydrate staples and any bread should be an occasional treat.
Also always go for the wholemeal sourdough so you get the nutrition benefits from that as well.
Conclusion – Is Sourdough Healthier Than Normal Bread?
Yes sourdough is healthier than normal bread. It’s basically a less processed, more natural product, so if it’s a choice between sourdough and normal bread, it’s no contest from a health perspective.