Keto Means
Photo by RODNAE Productions Pexels Logo Photo: RODNAE Productions

How many times a week is it OK to eat bread?

Three dietitians told Insider they enjoy bread every day, and that you can include it in your diet even if you're trying to eat healthier by opting for whole grain varieties with nutritious toppings like eggs, avocado, and salmon.

What should I eat at night to lose weight?
What should I eat at night to lose weight?

The following are some of the best snacks for weight loss. Hummus and vegetables. Hummus is a traditional Mediterranean dish that people make from...

Read More »
How to lose 2lbs a week?
How to lose 2lbs a week?

Generally to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week, you need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day, through a lower calorie diet and...

Read More »

Bread is often shunned by health-conscious dieters, but that's a mistake, according to experts. Dietitians say bread can be an important part of a healthy diet for most people. Whole grain bread with nutritious toppings can be a satisfying way to get more fiber and vitamins. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy Unless you're on a specific doctor-recommended plan to cut carbs for a medical condition, there's no reason to arbitrarily deprive yourself of bread, experts say. Retired body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger recently revealed he cut out bread to reach his goal weight, but you don't have to fear the carb, according to nutritionists. Three dietitians told Insider they enjoy bread every day, and that you can include it in your diet even if you're trying to eat healthier by opting for whole grain varieties with nutritious toppings like eggs, avocado, and salmon.

Bread and other carbs aren't the enemy

Bread restrictive diets — like keto and low-carb meal plans — give bread a bad reputation, registered dietitian Rachael Hartley said. "Bread gets unfairly demonized, more so than many other sources of carbohydrate," she told Insider. But bread is a nutritional mainstay for a reason — it's a convenient, cheap, and widely-appealing source of energy and has important nutrients like iron and B-vitamins thiamine, niacin, folic acid and riboflavin. Hartley said she enjoys bread every day: some recent favorites include pumpernickel with cream cheese and salmon, naan (Indian flatbread) with curry, or whatever is fresh from her local bakery. "It's a staple food all over the world, and has been for thousands of years! That's because our body needs carbs, as it's our main source of fuel," she said. Carbs are a powerful resource for athletes, too. Eating carbs before or after a workout can help fuel your body's supply of glycogen, which both powers your muscles and helps rebuild them after exercise. Two-time CrossFit Games champ, Katrin Davidsdottir, said that after mistakenly avoiding bread for years, it's now crucial fuel for her intense workouts.

For healthier bread options, stick to whole grains

If you're looking to improve your diet, some types of bread will have more of a nutritional punch than others. "While it is true that white bread and white flour bread products are less nutrient-dense, high in sugar, and lead to inflammation and weight gain, the same is not true for their whole grain counterparts" registered dietitian Brigitte Zeitlin told Insider. "Whole grain bread offers up some serious nutrition."

What clears inflammation in the body?
What clears inflammation in the body?

For acute inflammation, rest, ice and good wound care often relieve the discomfort in a few days. If you have chronic inflammation, your healthcare...

Read More »
Do calories matter on keto?
Do calories matter on keto?

The ketogenic diet is distinct from the Atkins Diet in that it does entail counting calories, and it advocates for eating real food, not processed...

Read More »

That's because it's less processed than white bread, and contains more fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and other nutrients. Zeitlin enjoys whole grain toast with an egg scramble for breakfast or brunch, and as a tuna melt for lunch.

Don't forget the toppings

Few people sit down and eat a plain loaf of bread. We often load it up with toppings like nut butter, jam, cheeses, meats, and more. While delicious, these toppings can sometimes be very calorie-dense, and many people don't measure them, which can lead to double or quadruple the calories you thought you were eating. That's not a bad thing, but it can sometimes lead to the mistaken impression that bread is linked to weight gain. It doesn't have to be, said Taub-Dix, who said she eats bread every day "without exception — unless it's a bagel." "When whole grain bread becomes a part of your meal, there's a good chance you'll feel more satiated and less likely to go foraging for a bread-like substitute like chips or cookies between meals," Taub-Dix said. For a satisfying, protein-packed meal or snack, you can also opt to top it with all kinds of healthy, nutrient-rich extras like avocado, eggs, tuna, salmon, and cream cheese. If weight loss is a goal for you, it can be helpful to occasionally measure out serving sizes of butters and jams so you know how much you're eating.

Context matters for a healthy diet

Finally, regardless of what type of bread you indulge in, there's no need to worry that a single food item will make or break your diet. That's because nutrition is about overall patterns of eating. Experts often recommend making healthy, nutrient-dense whole foods the majority of your diet, 80-90% of your calories, while allowing the rest to be foods you enjoy regardless of nutritional value. This is sometimes called the 80/20 rule. "If you think cutting carbs is the most effective, but it makes you die inside, don't do it," registered dietitian Georgie Fear previously told Insider. That means that even an occasional slice of white bread is unlikely to sabotage your nutrition goals, and you certainly don't have to ditch the bread completely to be healthy.

Are boiled onions Keto?
Are boiled onions Keto?

Luckily, onions can fit into any diet because of their nutrients, low calories, fiber and flavor – even Keto. Sep 1, 2020

Read More »
Can you drink wine every night on keto?
Can you drink wine every night on keto?

Once your liver has finished metabolizing the alcohol, it will go back to producing ketones properly. So while it is recommended that, if you're on...

Read More »
What are the two 2 main triggers for diabetic ketoacidosis?
What are the two 2 main triggers for diabetic ketoacidosis?

Very high blood sugar and low insulin levels lead to DKA. Mar 25, 2021

Read More »
What snacks are considered keto?
What snacks are considered keto?

Best keto snacks: Benefits and nutrition Nut butters. Olives. Nuts and seeds. Avocados. Boiled eggs. Cheese. Green bell peppers. Carrots. More...

Read More »