Choosing Organic Breads

A bread that is truly organic will not have any artificial ingredients (in other words, those chemical names so hard to pronounce), preservatives or unhealthy sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup. Its ingredients also will be pesticide free and not genetically modified. Look for the words “certified organically grown” on the packaging.

White bread can be organic, but note that in making white flour, the nutritious parts of the grain–the germ and the bran–are removed, and though some of the lost nutrients are added back in, vitamins and minerals are best absorbed by the body in their original state. Also unlike white bread, the fiber in whole-grain breads gives you a feeling of fullness and keeps your digestive tract running smoothly. While it’s fine to go for white breads every so often, don’t make it a daily staple. Look for an organic bread with at least 3 grams of fiber per slice.

There are more whole grains than just wheat to choose from while shopping for organic bread. For example, try breads made with grains like oat, spelt (nutlike in flavor and great for those who can’t tolerate wheat) or quinoa (a staple from South America, it is technically a seed but used as a grain).

Organic breads are not just limited to regular sliced bread. Due to their rising popularity, you can now find organic hot dog buns, organic hamburger buns, organic bagels, organic tortillas and wraps (great for when you want less bread and more filling ingredients) and organic English muffins, to name a few.

Try organic sprouted grain breads. These breads are made up of organic whole grains that are sprouted. Instead of milling grains into flour, they are soaked in water until they sprout. This means they begin to grow. After draining the grains of water, they are ground into a moist, soft dough instead of flour. This method releases enzymes from the germ, so that the fiber and bran (which contains 21 vitamins and minerals) remain intact. Organic breads made of sprouted grain are more easy to digest, and their nutrients are more readily absorbed by the body.