Eating sandwiches is an American tradition – and one that few Americans are willing to give up. What could be faster and more convenient than grabbing a quick sandwich to go? Unfortunately, the bread that most sandwiches are served on is made of refined carbohydrates that does nothing positive for blood sugar levels – or for the waistline. Bread may be the “staff of life”, but not when it’s made of bleached, white flour that’s stripped of its fiber.

Fortunately for those who are trying to cut back on empty carbs, there are healthier breads available that are made with whole wheat flour. The key when bread shopping is to look for the word “whole” on the label which means the entire grain is intact – not just the endosperm which is devoid of fiber and nutrients.

Sandwich lovers take notice. There’s a new healthier bread on the horizon that reportedly tastes better than traditional breads made with whole wheat flour. Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service have developed a new bread made with barley which they believe offers superior health benefits and a more appealing taste.

Why is bread made of barley a healthier option? Barley is good for colon health because good bacteria in the intestines use it to produce butyric acid – a chemical that keeps the intestines healthy and lowers the risk of colon cancer. Barley also contains beta-glucan – a polysaccharide which helps to lower cholesterol levels. It’s also rich in heart healthy fiber.

To make this healthier bread, the developers used a plant carbohydrate called HPMC as a substitute for gluten – a protein which gives bread dough its structure. HPMC has cholesterol-lowering effects in animal studies which could make this new barley bread even more heart healthy. How does it taste? When researchers taste tested this bread against traditional whole wheat breads, taste tasters preferred it.

The makers are hoping this healthier bread will be a better tasting alternative to whole wheat bread and that it will have a positive health impact on people who have diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity by providing them with a bread that won’t have a negative impact on their blood sugar levels. Hopefully, it’ll reach store shelves in the near future.

Filed under: Fitness

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