Experts reveal why you shouldn't eat too much bread and it's not what you expect

Updated on September 12, 2023 at 10:56 AM

Bread is an essential part of the world's gastronomy. But it's not a good idea to eat it too often. What effect does it have on your health, and what can you replace it with?

Eating too much bread could be dangerous for your health, experts reveal

The baguette is a very French symbol. The breakfast roll is an institution in the UK. In the world, we have such a strong love of bread that any occasion is good to eat it. Whether it's with cold meats, cheese or even... nothing else, bread is omnipresent. Unfortunately, like all good things, it has to be eaten in moderation, and here's why.

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Bread is not a slimming ally

Ah, bread! That sweet bakery smell and those delicious slices of bread for breakfast. It's hard to live without it, but as you've probably noticed, it's not a super food. Once you've eaten a small slice of white bread, the feeling of fullness quickly kicks in: it has to be said that from a nutritional point of view, bread isn't incredible, with its 13 tiny grams of sneaky carbohydrates that barely fill you up.

It may be nutritionally poor, but it's rich in sugar: innocent on the surface, it sends our blood sugar levels soaring, putting us at risk of diabetes and other heart problems, Medecine Net tells us.

What to replace bread with?

Mind you, this doesn't mean you have to stop eating bread straight away, just that it may put the brakes on your consumption of undercooked baguettes and traditional foods. Fortunately, there are several alternatives that can make this transition easier, as Banner Health tells us. For example, wholemeal bread is richer in fibre, protein and micronutrients such as selenium and manganese than white bread, making it a better choice than bread made from refined flour.

Similarly, to incorporate more vegetables and better manage your blood sugar, why not try corn tortillas, cheese or coconut wraps, cauliflower bread or cucumber, sweet potato and pepper slices? Portobello mushrooms and lettuce also make excellent bread-free sandwiches. And if you're feeling more adventurous, egg bread is a tasty alternative.