Can a diabetic eat Sourdough bread?
Sourdough bread has been around for thousands of years and is a great alternative to conventional bread. A diabetic can eat Sourdough bread as it is very nutritious and can help regulate blood sugar levels. Sourdough bread is high in antioxidants, prebiotics, dietary fibre and folate. Sourdough is allowed to rise for up to 18 hours. This raising process and acid produced by sourdough starter add flavour to sourdough bread and gives it a low glycaemic index (GI). So, a diabetic can eat sourdough bread as part of balanced diabetic diet.
Does sourdough bread raise blood sugar?
Sourdough bread has low glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) due to the acid from sourdough starter. Also, natural yeast and longer fermentation in making sourdough bread means sourdough bread takes longer to digest than other types of bread. This means sourdough bread does not cause any spikes in blood sugar levels.
What are the benefits of eating Sourdough bread?
- The natural yeast or sourdough starter and used in making sourdough bread helps unlock and absorb nutrients more easily.
- Lower phytate levels make sourdough bread more nutritious and easily digestible.
- The fibre in sourdough bread promotes the good bacteria in the gut. This improves your metabolism and supports digestion.
- Sourdough bread contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins B1 – B6, B12, E, Calcium, folate, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Riboflavin, Zinc etc.
- Sourdough is a healthier alternative to regular white or whole wheat bread. The prebiotics also help to keep your gut bacteria happy, and it may be less likely to spike blood sugar levels.
- Some studies say sourdough bread can help weight loss as it takes longer than normal bread to digest.
What are the side effects of eating Sourdough bread?
- Eating large amounts of sourdough bread can cause tummy gas and bloating.
- In some people, sourdough bread can trigger an allergic reaction.
