Bread is an easy go-to for many busy people, in many forms such as waffles, pancakes, croissants, and comforting slices (or stacks) of toast, but according to some experts, bread It is difficult to digest and can be harmful to the body if eaten in excess.
In his book Don’t Eat Bread for Breakfast, Dr. Shoji Fukushima, a Japanese gastroenterologist, argues that seemingly easy-to-digest bread is bad for you. digestion Eating too much can harm your body. Bread causes blood sugar levels to rise sharply, and if there is a lot of sugar, the balance of the autonomic nervous system is lost, falling into a vicious cycle of sugar, which leads to obesity.
Fukushima further explains:
- Gluten in bread interferes with digestion and absorption and can cause illness.
Most of the protein in wheat flour is gluten protein, and the small intestinal mucosa absorbs gluten protein without completely digesting it. When this happens, the digestion and absorption of nutrients is impeded, which can lead to stomach pain and allergies. - Toasted bread can cause various diseases
Baking or toasting bread at high temperatures binds sugars and proteins together, Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that damage proteins in the bodyAGEs are found in the charred surface of toast and waffles. Major risk factors for AGEs may be diabetic complications and inflammatory conditions in blood vessels, kidneys, muscles, and other vital organs. Similarly, barbecued food can cause heart and brain diseases.Continued accumulation of AGEs in the body can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cancer. I have. - incomplete digestion
food remains in the stomach and small intestine 6-8 hoursGastroscopies have shown that meat, thought to be taxing on the digestive system, leaves little residue in the stomach. Conversely, foods with a lot of sugar such as bread, rice, and udon noodles remain in the body without being digested, and when they accumulate, they put a strain on the body. - Overeating carbohydrates spike blood sugar
Flour used in baking is high in carbohydrates. 45 grams of carbsIn response to carbohydrate-rich meals, the body secretes cortisol and adrenaline, Especially in the morning, the absorption efficiency of carbohydrates is high.Eating bread for breakfast may spike blood pressure Blood glucose levelIts fluctuations can damage blood vessels and lead to serious diseases such as arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
Tai Ting-En, M.D., Chief Resident, Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University Hospital. The human body secretes cortisol and adrenaline in the morning, so the absorption rate of sugar is high. Therefore, eating bread in the morning can lead to large fluctuations in blood sugar levels within an hour or two after eating, which can be detrimental to your health. ”
Even more worrying is that carbohydrates disrupt our lives. autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nerves, which are active during the day, help blood circulation and suppress digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system, which is active at night, helps the body rest, slows the heart rate, and promotes digestion at the same time. Both are part of the autonomic nervous system.
If you eat too much carbohydrates immediately after waking up, your autonomic nerves will be disturbed and your biological balance will collapse. Tai reminded people to maintain a balanced diet and regular eating schedule, and avoid eating burnt toast.
bread substitute
A group of US doctors and nutritionists studied the effects of AGEs on food.of research Published June 1, 2010 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and PubMed Central.
This study concluded that AGEs in food represent pathogenic compounds associated with chronic disease. Clinical reports have revealed that foods that are barbecued, roasted, or cooked at high temperatures form more of his AGEs than foods that are not.
Processed foods and total fat products spike the levels of AGEs in the body. The study also showed that adding fish, whole grains, vegetables and fruits to the diet can reduce intake of AGE substances.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, Tai said: Although you may enjoy bread occasionally, I recommend a Mediterranean diet.You can also replace white bread with whole grain bread. Additionally, you can include other whole wheat products, fresh greens, fruits and greens in your daily diet. [amounts of] oil and sodium. ”
