Bread is one of the most present foods in the Mexican diet. Sometimes it is consumed fresh and other times roasted; It is used to prepare sandwiches, cakes or sandwiches, to eat it for breakfast with various toppings and to accompany all kinds of dishes at lunch or dinner.
And you, do you usually eat toasted or untoasted bread? While some people think that roasting it will not make you fat because it reduces your calorie intake and it is easier to digest, others think that the roasting process takes away its nutrients, but what is the reality?
In addition to its crunchy texture making it much more appetizing, on a biochemical level there are a series of reactions that occur when fresh bread loses its moisture and turns brown.
According to nutrition specialists, toasting (and dehydrating) bread may have some potential health benefits. At the same time, it is important to clarify that toasting the bread does not kill the nutrients or reduce its nutritional valuebecause the vitamins and minerals it contains are kept there.
What is true is that toasted bread has a glycemic index (how fast a food can raise your blood glucose level) slightly lower than cool, because the aforementioned chemical reactions break down carbohydrates. However, this does not mean that if you roast it you can eat more, because the reduction is not that great, so it is not necessary to abuse it.
On the other hand, those chemical reactions cause the starches to change as the water level of the bread decreases with heat. The breakdown of these starches can make toasted bread a little easier to digest for those who have difficulty processing flours and carbohydrates.
Something in which specialists agree is that, beyond worrying about whether or not to toast the bread, what is truly important is the type of bread you choose, since it is better to consume breads made from cereals and whole grainsthan those highly processed and made with refined flours.
Finally, a recommendation from the experts is that if you like toasted bread, you must never let it burnbecause in addition to having a bitter taste, it can cause health problems.
When food is heated to high temperatures a potentially carcinogenic compound called acrylamide is formed, from the starches and amino acids present in food. So if your bread is lightly toasted it’s fine, but if it chars there’s more chance that some acrylamide has formed.
As a conclusion, because its glycemic index is lower and it is easier to digest, toasted bread may be the best option, especially for those watching their carbohydrate or sugar intake or for those who have digestion problems.
However, the most important thing is the type of bread you choose, so it is better to opt for natural, nutritious and unprocessed ingredients. On the other hand, moderation is everythingsince regardless of the type of bread you choose or if you prefer it fresh or toasted, you should try to consume it in small quantities to avoid problems of being overweight or high glucose.
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