Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man. It has been around for several millennia. The recent low-carbohydrate craze has given bread a bad reputation, but not all breads are created equal. There are more varieties of bread than there are supplement companies. This article will explain the history of bread, the types of bread, and the role that bread can play in the quest for good health and a better body.

The History of Bread

It is estimated that the first bread was made around 10,000 years BC or over 12,000 years in the past. This bread was more than likely flatbread, similar to a tortilla, made simply of ground grains (flour) and water that was mashed and baked. The first tools and implements used in the making of bread are dated to about 8000 years BC.

Egypt is attributed with popularizing the art of making bread. Egyptians are considered to be the agricultural pioneers of the old world, probably benefiting from interactions with Samaria. The closed oven was invented circa 3000 BC and allowed for more varieties of bread to be produced. It is around this time that leavened bread is first described, that is bread, bread with yeast added so that it would rise during production. Refined grains were considered superior and therefore were prevalent in the higher courts, so the poorer populations used barley and sorghum in their breads.

Around 1000 BC the Mosaic laws were introduced. These laws, in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, contained instructions to the nation of Israel regarding proper food preparation. When the Hebrew people fled Egypt during the legendary Exodus, they were forced to make unleavened (flat) bread in their haste. Leviticus declares a feast commemorating the exodus using flatbread. Bread is a common symbol of bounty in the Bible – Leviticus 21:22 declares, “He shall eat the bread of his God.” When the people of God were lost in the wilderness, they were fed manna, which was described as bread from heaven. The Christian Savior, Jesus Christ, is called the “Bread of Life”.

The bible also gives one of the earliest recipes for sprouted grain bread. It reads, in Ezekiel 4:9-17: “The thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.” While more than a year of nothing but this bread sounds like quite a marathon diet, analysis of products today using the same recipe show that it was a well-balanced, nutritious bread that yielded plenty of protein, fiber, carbohydrate, and healthy fat.

In 400 BC, around the time when Socrates was providing sage dietary advice, Plato imagined an ideal world. In this world, men would live to a ripe old age. Their main source of sustenance would be whole grain bread from local wheat.

168 BC saw the establishment of baker?s guilds in Rome. Bread even played a major role in politics when, in 40 BC, as part of a campaign, it was decreed that bread should be freely distributed to every male adult.

In 1202 AD, English laws were passed to regulate the production of bread. While many people are aware of the differences between whole grain (brown) bread and white breads, few realize that it caused quite a stir in 1307 when the white bread bakers and brown bread bakers split to form separate guilds! It was not until two centuries later, in 1569, that the guilds were reunited and called the “Worshipful Company of Bakers.”

As early as 1826, the whole grain bread used by the military was called superior for health to the white, refined bread used by the aristocracy. In fact, the term refined today comes from this fact. Before the industrial revolution, it was more labor consuming (and therefore costly) to refine bread, so white bread was the main staple for aristocracy. This made them “refined”.

In 1910, Americans were eating 210 pounds of wheat flour every year. The commercial bread-slicing machine was invented in 1912 by Otto Rohwedder, and unveiled in 1928. The 1930s saw the United States pursue a diet enrichment program to begin fortifying breads with vitamins and minerals after their discovery in the late 1920s. In 1941, calcium was added to help prevent rickets, observed in many female recruits to the military.

In 1956, it became the law to enrich all refined breads. By 1971 consumption of white bread had dropped to around 110 pounds per year, but by 1997 (possibly due in part to the low fat, high carbohydrate craze and the food pyramid) consumption was up to 150 pounds – still 60 pounds shy of the fit, trim Americans at the turn of the century.

Types of Bread

There are many types of bread. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

In the most basic form, grinding grains, adding water, and heating it produces whole grain flatbread. Whole grain bread is similar, only yeast is added so that the bread rises. White bread starts out similar to whole grain bread. The grain is processed, however. The hard, outer portion of the grain is stripped, removing fiber and many vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that are naturally available. The remaining portion is ground to a fine powder, the enriched with a generic spray of vitamins and minerals. This is then used to bake the bread.

Spelt bread is a grain-bread, but made from special wheat that does not contain gluten. Gluten, a form of protein, is a common allergen and gluten intolerance or allergies are quite common.

Since whole grains are not sweet, sourdough bread is simply wheat bread with no sweetener added. Once a sweetener is added ? often high fructose corn syrup in commercial breads, but typically brown sugar, honey, or molasses in fresh baked breads ? it becomes the typical bread you are used to buying.

Varieties such as oat, barley, rye, kamut, triticale, millet, and even rice bread are simply variations using different grains other than traditional wheat. Sometimes seeds and spices are added, creating varieties such as basil, garlic, onion, or cinnamon bread.

Sprouted grain bread has increased in popularity in recent years. Traditional bread is made from ground flour from the hardened kernel of grain. Sprouted grain bread involves soaking the grain and allowing it to sprout. The sprouted seedlings are then mashed together and baked. Sprouting allows the enzymes in the grain to convert some of the carbohydrates and fats to vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Due to the changes that take place, sprouted grain bread typically is higher in protein, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals than regular bread. It is also less refined and processed than even stone ground wheat bread, so it has less of an impact on your blood sugar.

Bread and Nutrition

Many commercial types of bread are highly refined. Enriched breads have the original nutrients stripped out and replaced with inferior, often lesser quantities of standard vitamins and minerals. Some companies will try to produce wholesome-looking bread by adding grains to the outside, even when the main ingredient is enriched bread. High fructose corn syrup is often added as a sweetener.

The first thing to look at when purchasing breads is the ingredients list. Look for breads where the very first ingredient is “whole grain” or “stone ground” rather than “enriched” (even if whole grains follow the enriched flour ingredient). Look for natural sweeteners like molasses or honey over high fructose corn syrup. Preferably, the sweetener and salt should be last on the ingredients list. If you consume high quantities of bread or keep the bread refrigerated, it will last longer and you can purchase fresher varieties that do not contain additives or preservatives. The most basic ingredients list will look like this: whole-wheat flour, water, salt. There should be a few grams of protein and fiber per slice ? low protein and/or fiber is a sign of excessive processing that has stripped these nutrients, and implies that the other nutrients will be missing as well.

Rye bread typically contains moderate portions of protein and fiber per slice. A 100-calorie slice will contain a few grams of protein, a few grams of fiber, around 20 grams of carbohydrate, and decent amounts of calcium and iron. The addition of flaxseed increases protein and fiber (for the same 100 calorie slice) but also adds trace amounts of health, unsaturated fats.

There are actually some amazing bread recipes that can be very beneficial for the bodybuilder. A variety of bread called “Men’s Bread” by French Meadow Bakery contains the following: Organic whole wheat flour, filtered water, organic flaxseed, organic pumpkin seeds, organic oat fiber, organic low fat soy flour, organic wheat flour, organic sesame seeds, organic raw sprouted fava beans, organic sunflower seeds, organic millet, organic pea protein isolate (non-GMO), organic wheat flour (wheat germ restored), soy germ isoflavone concentrate (non-GMO), organic sprouted quinoa, organic sprouted amaranth, organic sprouted spelt, organic sprouted kamut, wheat gluten, organic sprouted barley, organic sprouted oats, organic sprouted wheat, unrefined sea salt.

This power-packed ingredients list provides a 100-calorie slice of bread with essential fatty acids, 5 grams of fiber, and 8 grams of protein to only 11 grams of carbohydrate. It is abundant in over 13 vitamins and minerals. Compare this to a typical slice of white bread, which contains no fiber, trace amounts of protein, and double the carbohydrate.

Summary

Bread has been around for ages. While trends such as low carbohydrate nutrition or low fat dieting come and go, bread is here to stay – people “earn their bread” or “bring the bread home” and are constantly looking for the “best thing since sliced bread”. Before eliminating bread from your program, consider the many types of bread that are available and decide if there is one that suits your needs. Bread can increase your protein intake, add fiber to your diet, refill you muscles by supply quality carbohydrate in addition to healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. People are always looking for the next great protein or power bar. Why not try a slice of bread?

Copyright 2005 Jeremy Likness

About The Author
Jeremy Likness is an internationally-selling author, motivational speaker, and health coach. His unique coaching services have assisted people around the world with losing hundreds of pounds of weight. Jeremy is the author of “Lose Fat, Not Faith: A Transformation Guide“. To learn more about Jeremy and his unique form of coaching from the heart, visit www.naturalphysiques.com/hire/ or call Jeremy direct at 1-888-472-2829 (770-456-5580).

Deciding which bread machine to buy can be a daunting task. The costs can vary wildly and the most expensive ones aren’t always the best solutions, while the many of the inexpensive ones ones can break down more frequently. This creates a false economy as you end up replacing the machine year after year, costing you more in the long run.

What’s a fresh bread fanatic to do?

The following three bread makers are considered by many experts and owners to be the best in their class:

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme

• Panasonic SD-YD250

• Sunbeam 2-pound programmable

They’ve been selected for inclusion here by features and price point, but I have noticed some overlap in pricing for the bottom two models. In all, you can expect to pay as little as $70.00 for the Sunbeam, and as much as $250.00 for the Zojirushi. That’s quite a bit of difference in price, but there’s a huge difference in features and durability, as well.

Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Bread Maker

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker is the Rolls Royce of bread makers, and is considered by many to be the best overall bread maker machine on the market.

It makes horizontal loaves, between one and two pounds, valued by most bread machine owners as being the most pretty, and most like those oven-baked in a conventional bread loaf pan or available from bakeries. To handle the mixing challenges a horizontal loaf brings, the Zojirushi bread maker uses two mixing / kneading paddles. Experts agree that this is a serious advantage over the more usual single-paddle machines. More thorough kneading leads to a more consistent rise and crumb.

The Zojirushi has more useful cycles and options than any other bread maker I’ve come across, including a sourdough starter cycle. I’ve never seen that in any other bread maker. As a fan of sourdough breads, this is a real ‘plus’ to me. Owners say that the Zojirushi bread machine is very flexible and can do more than just make bread. There are cycles for jam, cakes and even meatloaf. There are three custom-memory settings and a long, 13-hour delay timer.

The Zojirushi gets solid reviews from owners, with over 300 written reviews at Amazon.com and anthoer 200 or so at Cooking.com. I did find a medium number of complaints about durability, but nothing that seemed any differ 1000 ent from other high-end bread makers. Some others complained about how large and heavy the machine was, but I think that’s to be expected with a bread maker of this quality and capability. If you want nothing but the best in your kitchen, you’ll want to pay the extra cash to get the amazing Zojirushi bread maker.

Panasonic SD-YD250

If you don’t care about custom cycles, the Panasonic SD-YD250 may be a better option for you. According to reviewers, the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker is the best mid-range bread machine on the market. It’s a sturdy, easy to use bread maker that makes regularly shaped horizontal loaves, which most people prefer over the more common, vertical ones. I did find it odd that this breadmaker lacks a viewing window, a pretty standard feature on other bread makers. Given how little you can see through the prots of other models, however, I doubt you’ll miss it.

Owner’s love how durable the Panasonic breadmaker is. Of the more than 350 owner reviewers have rated the Panasonic SD-YD250 breadmaker at Amazon.com, more than 70% give it a top, 5-start rating. It consistently makes good bread. The only ‘con’ than reviewers at Epinions.com mention is that now they’re eating more bread than ever before.

Many write that say they’ve used their machines for years. There are only a handful of complaints about breakage problems. While it’s not the cheapest model of home bread maker, we often get what we pay for. I’ve had to replace more than one bread maker simply because I’d worn them out. In such cases, ‘inexpensive now’ creates a false economy as you keep having to replace them. Given the Panasonic’s record of durability, however, I’d say it’s great choice.

Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Bread Maker

If the Panasonic is a bit more than you need, or want to pay, the Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker may be your best option. It’s a solid performer at a low price. Home cooks have praised it’s ease of use and overall performance, as well as it’s affordable price.

The Sunbeam 5891 is packed with all the basics you’d expect from a great bread maker: crust-color selector, regular baking and dough only cycles, you name it. Like most bread makers in it’s price range, it makes a vertical loaf, rather than the horizontal one available in more expensive machines. It sports a good, no-frills approach with 12 preprogrammed cycles and, surprisingly, a jam cycle.

To be fair, I found a few complaints about its durability and many owners say the recipes in the manual could be better. A few reviewers have also complained about the LCD screen, saying it can be hard to read. In spite of these complaints, owners of the Sunbeam 5891, posting at Cooking.com and Amazon.com, awarded the Sunbeam bread maker a good over-all rating. It is considered by many to be the best available bread machine in it’s price range.

So, whether you’re looking for a basic workhorse bread machine on a budget, or you’re ready to step up to the best home bread machine available, it will be hard to go wrong with any of these three bread makers.

By: John Newman – Mormon Foodie From: Article Directory

The automatic bread maker is a wonderful invention given to us from the 1980s. Prior to this invention, women would have to spend all day, making and waiting for their bread loaves to come out of the oven.

It was a tedious process of mixing the dough, kneading the dough and then waiting for the first rise. After the first rise, it was punched down and had to rise again before shaping and then rising a third time before baking. This process took many hours just to be able to enjoy a loaf of fresh bread.

Thankfully, times have changed and you can enjoy fresh loaves with an automatic bread maker. There are tons of wonderful free bread recipes that come with the machine and you can even take a shortcut by buying the boxed sets. There are a wide variety of choices and some even feature sweet breads, such as cinnamon rolls.

What more could you ask for? Even the free sweet bread recipes included in the instruction booklet are incredibly easy. You simply dump in the ingredients, close the lid and let the machine do the work. You come back three hours later and it’s ready to eat.

There are quite a few brands out on the market right now. You have to remember that the automatic bread making machine has only been around since the 1980s, but has surprisingly evolved quite a bit. Take for example the Panasonic SD YD250 automatic one that does it all for you.

There are also other bread making machines out on the market such as the Cuisinart bread maker. All feature the same basic features but some are definitely better than others when it comes to making different items other than bread, such as rolls and sundry bakery products.

Hot fresh bread is something that is incomparable. An automatic bread maker is a wonderful invention that can provide you with endless, delightful treats. It is a simple toss and bake machine that will keep your bread warm for you.

The added bonus is the free bread recipes that come with the machine. No one has to slave over a hot stove in a sweltering kitchen any longer. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are feeding your family food that is free of preservatives and is made with love.

By: Michael Selvon From: Article Directory