Real Life Nutrition Questions Answered

Real Life Fitness Questions Answered

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Emma Brown
Nutritionist

Photo of Janet

Janet Aylott
Nutritionist

Photo of Kelly

Kelly Marshall
Fitness Consultant

Q.

What are the benefits of brown bread?

Hi - can you please tell me what the benefits are from swapping white to brown bread? I really love bread but know it's not really good for me and would brown bread be okay instead?

A.

Our expert says...

Bread that is made with wholemeal flour gives you all the goodness of the whole grain in away that white bread doesn't. The fibre in wholemeal bread also helps fill you up so you'll feel fuller. But that's not to say white bread is actually "bad" for you - all bread supplies carbohydrate energy, B vitamins and iron, and white bread is fortified with calcium.

Having said that if you can swap to wholemeal, and in fact everything whole grain, it's a great idea as whole grains are associated with lower risk of heart disease, good digestive health and also a lower waist measurement! Try to get three portions a day - examples or what make up a portion are given below.

What's a whole grain portion?

2 heaped tablespoons of boiled brown rice

3 heaped tablespoons of whole wheat pasta

1 Shredded Wheat or Weetabix, OR

3 tablespoons of any other cereal that states it's wholegrain e.g. Cheerios, Shreddies

2 cups of plain popcorn

Small bowl porridge or muesli

2 oatcakes (20g)

2 rye crispbreads (20g)

1 medium slice of wholemeal bread

2 medium slices half white, half wholemeal bread (e.g. Kingsmill 50/50)

1⁄2 wholemeal pitta

1 pack of Ryvita Minis

1 x 25g pack Walkers Sunbites or Twiglets

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