The term ‘brown bread’ is usually taken to mean the bread that is made of whole-wheat grains. In other words, in the process of making brown bread, the bran and germ of the wheat flour are not removed and left intact. The result is that the bread retains all its essential nutrients, along with the much healthy fiber. However, while buying brown bread, in the exact sense, you should not only look at its color, but also at the ingredients in it. This is because, in many cases, the bread is made to look brown by adding things like caramel, but in essence, it is not made from whole wheat and does not contain all the nutrients. So, before buying brown bread, make sure to check that it has whole wheat flour as the main ingredient. In the following lines, we have provided nutrition facts and health benefits of brown bread.
Brown Bread Nutrition Facts
Amount ofBrown Bread: 1 slice
Total Weight of Brown Bread: 46 g
Nutrients
|
Amount
|
Basic Components
|
|
Protein
|
3.9 g
|
Carbohydrates
|
23.6 g
|
Water
|
15 g
|
Ash
|
0.9 g
|
Calories
|
|
Total Calories
|
128
|
Calories From Fat
|
22.4
|
Calories From Carbohydrate
Calories From Protein
|
90.1
15.5
|
Carbohydrates
|
|
Dietary Fiber
|
2.8 g
|
Fats
|
|
Total Fat
|
2.5 g
|
Saturated Fat
|
0.4 g
|
Monounsaturated Fat
|
0.5 g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat
|
1.4 g
|
Vitamins
|
|
Vitamin A
|
1.4 IU
|
Niacin
|
1.8 mg
|
Folate
|
29.9 mcg
|
Vitamin B6
|
0.1 mg
|
Minerals
|
|
Calcium
|
15.2 mg
|
Iron
|
1.4 mg
|
Magnesium
|
37.3 mg
|
Manganese
|
0.9 mg
|
Phosphorus
|
86 mg
|
Potassium
|
144 mg
|
Selenium
|
17.8 mcg
|
Sodium
|
159 mg
|
Zinc
|
0.7 mg
|
Copper
|
0.1 mg
|
Other Fats
|
|
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
|
146 mg
|
Omega 6 Fatty Acids
|
1206 mg
|
Brown Bread Facts & Health Benefits
- All whole-wheat breads are brown in color, but not all brown breads are made of whole-wheat. Before buying brown bread, make sure that it has whole grain as the main ingredient.
- Brown bread has more fiber and nutrients than white bread, since it is not processed as much as the latter.
- The fiber present in whole wheat brown bread helps reduce the risk of some chronic diseases, like constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticulosis.
- Since fiber helps lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and the total cholesterol, whole wheat brown bread has been associated with reducing the risk of heart disease.
- The fiber in brown bread also helps keep the blood sugar at lower levels, meaning the bread facilitates better management of diabetes.
- Those who are aiming for weight loss or are otherwise health conscious should prefer brown bread, since it has much less calories than the white one and also keeps you feeling full for a longer time (owing to the fiber content).
- Whole wheat bread reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome, which includes visceral obesity (the "apple shaped" body), low levels of protective HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure.
- Brown bread lowers the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, thanks to the rich source of magnesium, which acts as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymes, including enzymes involved in the body's use of glucose and insulin secretion.
- Studies show that women, who consume foods high in insoluble fiber, such as breads made from whole wheat, do not face the problem of gallstones.
- According to research, bread made from whole wheat, when consumed, results in acting as a protective agent against breast cancer.