What do you think: is darker bread always healthier? Read on to find out.
Bread color
Let’s get straight to the point: the color of bread doesn’t say anything about how healthy it is. Sometimes, bread is darkened using roasted malt flour or caramelized sugar. As a result, bread made with white flour can still appear dark—and look “healthy.”
Flour, refined flour, and wholemeal flour
To determine how healthy bread really is, you need to know what it’s made of: refined flour (bloem), regular flour (meel), or wholemeal flour (volkorenmeel). You usually can’t tell by looking at it.
– White bread is typically made from refined flour
– Light brown bread from regular flour
– Wholemeal bread from 100% wholemeal flour
Types of grains
Bread can be made from various grains. While wheat is most common, it may also include corn, barley, rye, buckwheat, or spelt. This is then called multigrain bread. But again: a multigrain bread can still be made with refined flour, making it less healthy.
So what’s the best choice?
Bread made from wholemeal flour is your healthiest option. Always check the label or store signage. If a bread is sold as “wholemeal,” you can trust it really is—because that’s a legal definition in the Netherlands.
Source: Voedingscentrum (Dutch Nutrition Center)