How Sourdough Bread Affects The Way You Age

If you’ve made homemade sourdough bread during the pandemic or have always loved the distinctly sour taste of this type of leavened bread, you probably already know this. The health benefits of eating more sourdough breadBecause it uses a starter containing wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria (unlike regular breads that use baker’s yeast), it is said to be both nutritious and gut-friendly. For the latter reason, this bread is also suitable for people with digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).IBSSourdough bread is rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, folate, and niacin. The antioxidant properties of this bread have been linked to disease prevention. For all these reasons (and more), experts say this type of bread is a good choice for those looking to age healthily.

In fact, there is 2019 Survey A study published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Research on Aging, which looked at ageing-related health indicators in a Southern Mediterranean population, found that regular consumption of whole wheat sourdough bread was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The advantage of sourdough bread is that it has a low glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t cause the same spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels as regular refined white bread. This could be beneficial for older adults trying to control their blood sugar levels. Let’s take a closer look. Why Sourdough Bread is Healthier than You Think And how it affects your aging. First, let’s start with how this leavened bread affects your aging. Gut Health.

The prebiotics in sourdough bread can help maintain gut health. Eating fermented foods (such as sourdough bread) has been shown to promote gut bacterial diversity, which can reduce inflammation in the body. 2021 Survey The study, published in Cell, claims that fermentation enhances the antioxidant properties of foods, providing antihypertensive and antidiabetic benefits to consumers. 2019 Survey It was published in Nutrients magazine.

Tim Spector, professor of genetics and author Zoe), the gut microbiome is key to healthy aging, both as an indicator of health and as an influence on the immune system and the body’s natural repair mechanisms. A healthy gut can help fight diseases commonly associated with aging, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In fact, Eating sourdough bread has surprising effects on your heartPlus, due to the gut-brain connection, maintaining gut health also protects brain and mental health as you age, aiding cognitive function in addition to fighting health issues like depression and anxiety. There are plenty of other benefits sourdough bread can have for you as you age, and it has to do with its nutritional value and how it is absorbed by your body.

Not only does sourdough bread contain essential nutrients that are important for healthy aging (like calcium, potassium, and folate), experts say the fermentation process makes the nutrients easier to absorb. Aging affects how efficiently your body absorbs nutrients; eating sourdough bread may help address this issue. “Consuming fermented foods makes it easier for your digestive system to absorb important minerals like zinc, magnesium, and iron, which are key to maintaining healthy bones as you age. This is because it breaks down phytic acid, which inhibits mineral absorption,” explains registered dietitian Jinan Vanna (via: Fair + Good).

The calcium in sourdough bread is important for bone health, the potassium helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis, kidney stones, high blood pressure and stroke, and the folate is important for a healthy nervous system and cognitive function. That said, eating sourdough bread may not be as easy as just buying the first thing you see at the supermarket; experts recommend whole wheat bread over white bread. the study They also note that the bread is made in so many different ways that it’s difficult to assess its health benefits. Some experts think it’s best to buy whole wheat sourdough bread at your local bakery, while others suggest you can make it at home, though care should be taken when handling the starter and other ingredients, as they can easily become contaminated. Do not eat sourdough bread if you are taking certain medications.