Sourdough bread is becoming more and more popular, with many people enjoying the distinctive flavour of this type of bread. Although some may find it an acquired taste, others are absolutely in love with it. However, before you run out to the bakery and buy some sourdough, you might want to read this article first. In this article you will learn about the nutritional value of sourdough bread and its impact on your cholesterol levels. You will also learn about the reasons why some scientists believe that sourdough can be harmful for your health.
What is Sourdough?
Sourdough is a type of bread that is leavened using naturally occurring sourdough bacteria. Sourdough fermentation is done in an empty sourdough container that has been aerated. This container is called a sourdough starter. When you bake sourdough bread, you feed the starter with the dough. The bacteria then produce carbon dioxide and expand the dough.
At the same time, sourdough fermentation also helps to decrease the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body too. You can also expect to have increased levels of vitamins B and K in your bread too. These are both important for healthy blood pressure and strong bones.
How to Make Sourdough Bread
Now that you know what sourdough is and a little bit about how it is made, you can now make sourdough bread. Follow these simple steps to make sourdough bread at home. – First you need sourdough starter. You can get sourdough starter from a friend or you can make your own. If you make your own sourdough starter, then you will be able to make sourdough bread at home without store-bought sourdough.
– Sourdough Starter: Add 1 cup of flour to 1 cup of lukewarm water. Cover the container and let it sit for around 24 hours. This process helps to activate the yeast present in the flour and encourage bacterial growth in the water.
– Bread Mix: After 24 hours, add 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp yeast, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp sugar and enough water to make a dough. kneading the dough will activate further bacterial growth and the yeast too.
– Fermenting the Dough: Cover the dough and let it ferment in the cabinet for around 3-5 hours while you are busy. You can choose to ferment your sourdough in a warm place or in the fridge. If you do it in the fridge, then let it sit out for 15 minutes before use. If you do it in the warm place, then choose a room temperature around 70 degrees F.
– Baking the Bread: Preheat your oven at 200 degrees F. Once the oven is ready, take out the dough and shape it into a loaf. Place the loaf in the oven and bake for around 1 hour. The bread should be dark brown and slightly crusty on the outside.
Health Benefits of Sourdough Bread
– Healthy Blood Pressure – The main reason why sourdough can be good for your blood pressure is because it increases the levels of potassium in your body. Potassium is an important element for healthy blood pressure.
– Strong Bones – Sourdough bread also contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium that are important for healthy bones. Calcium is especially important for women who are expecting a baby.
– Strong Immune System – Sourdough bread is rich in Vitamin B. Vitamin B has the ability to protect your immune system against harmful bacteria and viruses.
– Healthy Heart – Sourdough bread is extremely rich in minerals such as manganese. Manganese has the ability to protect your heart against high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
Bad For Cholesterol Sourdough Bread
Now that you know the health benefits of sourdough bread, let us talk about the bad effects of it. Sourdough bread can raise LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. LDL is the “bad” cholesterol that increases the risk of heart disease and strokes. Since sourdough bread is such a rich source of B vitamins, it also has the ability to increase the levels of PQQ in the body. PQQ is a powerful antioxidant that has the ability to inhibit LDL oxidation.
Therefore, when you consume LDL rich food, such as sourdough bread, you will not be able to oxidize it as much as if you consumed a less healthy food. This means your body will have to work harder to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood.
Summary
Sourdough bread is a
of bread that is made with naturally occurring sourdough starter. Sourdough fermentation helps to decrease the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. Sourdough bread is rich in minerals such as calcium, manganese, and potassium. These minerals are important for healthy blood pressure, strong bones, and healthy heart. Sourdough bread is fine to consume if you are careful not to eat too much of it. If you do happen to consume too much, then you will end up with higher LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.
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