White bread and foods like baguettes, pizza, and bagels, negatively impact health. Most people who diet know they should avoid these foods because of their high caloric content.
They are made with highly processed flour and additives, and these high glycemic index foods do more damage to the body. If you’ve subscribed to eating white bread and other similar foods, here are reasons you may have a rethink:
Lower nutritional value
Although food is delicious, we eat primarily to gain the required nutrients for good health. However, white bread is a highly refined food that defeats that purpose with little nutritional value; this food does more harm than good to the body.
White bread is made from refined grains, which are often stripped of their nutritional benefits when manufacturers remove their innermost and outermost layers. It results in fiber loss, and twenty-five percent of the protein is also removed during the manufacturing process.
Even when the nutritional facts read “enriched flour,” it doesn’t change that this refined product has lost a significant portion of its protein and fiber. They may be fortified with iron and vitamins, but white bread and similar products still offer low nutritional value.
It affects the blood sugar levels
White bread contains high levels of sugar. The body digests it fast because of its low fiber and protein levels, causing an almost sudden spike in blood sugar levels.
The blood sugar levels crash soon after, and this fluctuation causes irritability.
It increases the risk of type-2 diabetes
A sudden increase in blood sugar levels causes the release of insulin into the bloodstream, which nudges sugar into the cells. This causes insulin resistance, making it difficult for your body to control your blood glucose levels.
Limit your intake of refined sugars to reduce your risk of type-2 diabetes.
Weight gain
Foods with a high glycemic index also prompt weight gain. This is because the body stores extra sugar as fat. A buildup can lead to obesity, affecting the heart and increasing your chances of stroke.
In addition, refined foods like white bread contain fewer proteins and fiber, which means the body breaks it down faster. Even if you’ve filled up on this food, you’ll likely become hungry soon.
When you find yourself reaching for a snack shortly after eating, it may be a sign of rapid digestion, increasing your caloric consumption at the end of the day.
It may cause depression
Eating well makes you feel good; research has shown a correlation between food and your mood, and white bread is an excellent example. This food may taste amazing while eating it, but its effects on mental health are undesirable.
We bet you never thought food could cause depression, but that’s not all. White bread may also cause mood swings, fatigue, and some other symptoms of depression, especially in older women.
Ditch white bread for leafy greens or other appropriate substitutes. Eat food that’s good for your mood.