Two questions (Is bread bad for you? + energy foods)

Ne0Indigo

Hey guys I have two questions!

The first one is about bread. I'm not the biggest fan of bread but I've been trying to avoid bread as much as possible because of the sugar content and I get enough sugar from the fruit I have every day. It's also because my dad and my friend who are body builders tell me I shouldn't have bread because it takes the body longer to break down (?) is this true? Is there any benefit to including bread in my meals? Will it hinder my weight loss?

Second question is I have a really late night coming up and I've debated skipping work the next day but I just can't justify it well enough so I'm sucking it up and I'm going to go in. I was considering drinking a bunch of zero sugar energy drinks (which I hate) but aside from the no nutritional benefits and I already struggle enough to drink water throughout the day (I've been drinking soda all my life so switching to water has been a bumpy road) I was just wondering if there is a food alternative that might be able to give me a pick me up. Please not I do not drink coffee - the smell alone makes me sick.

Thanks in advance

Chef_Barbell

Bread is fine. Don't believe the hype. Energy drinks for the most part are fine.

Need2Exerc1se

Bread - unless you are gluten intolerant it is not bad for you. I think the longer it takes to break down the better. That's why nutritionists recommend whole grain breads, because they contain fiber which slows digestion.

Those little 5 hour energy drinks work pretty well.

JustMissTracy

Bread is only bad for you if you have Celiac; if that's not the case, eat as much bread as you like! The best way to create good, solid energy is to eat foods that give you good, solid energy. Fruits, veggies, lean meats, nuts, seeds etc....What you eat today will determine how you feel/function tomorrow, so I'd suggest eating well for the few days before the late nite. Don't 'NOT' eat and just do energy drinks instead!

Spliner1969

Unless you have a medical condition, bread is just fine, and multi-grain or whole-grain versions are even good for you and can help you meet your fiber goals.

PaulaWallaDingDong

The answer is no, bread isn't bad for you, but I'm curious...did they explain why it's bad that, according to them, your body breaks down bread slowly?

psuLemon

PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »

The answer is no, bread isn't bad for you, but I'm curious...did they explain why it's bad that, according to them, your body breaks down bread slowly?

Well if its whole grains bread it would take longer to breakd down based on the fiber content. But even so, it literally doesn't matter. Why would it even matter the speed of nutrient breakdown?


Bread is completely fine to incorporate into a diet. Its pretty obvious that her dad and friend still believes in a lot of the broscience promoted in the community.

And for energy look at anything with caffeine.

Jenigmatic

I think body builders in general prefer eating high protein, low carb diets for the purpose of building muscle efficiently. If you're not looking to body build, there's nothing wrong with eating bread.

psuLemon

Jenigmatic wrote: »

I think body builders in general prefer eating high protein, low carb diets for the purpose of building muscle efficiently. If you're not looking to body build, there's nothing wrong with eating bread.

They tend to do that during stage prep. Carbs and luecine (amino acid) stimulate protein synthesis so it would be beneficial during a bulk. Although carbs are muscle sparring during a cut.

Chadxx

Bread does not break down slowly, quite the opposite actually. In fact, breaking down quickly is the "problem" with bread. If too much of my meal is bread, I will be hungry in no time. Other than that, there is really nothing wrong with bread.

_SalmonSultan_

Bread is perfectly ok, but your body reacts to the sugar differently than it would to the sugar in fruits, so do some further research into that if it concerns you at all. Also, it's best to have whole grain bread in your diet as opposed to white bread because white bread won't provide as many of the nutrients you need and won't keep you full as long as whole grain/wheat bread.

PaulaWallaDingDong

psulemon wrote: »

PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »

The answer is no, bread isn't bad for you, but I'm curious...did they explain why it's bad that, according to them, your body breaks down bread slowly?

Well if its whole grains bread it would take longer to breakd down based on the fiber content. But even so, it literally doesn't matter. Why would it even matter the speed of nutrient breakdown?


Bread is completely fine to incorporate into a diet. Its pretty obvious that her dad and friend still believes in a lot of the broscience promoted in the community.

And for energy look at anything with caffeine.

I really just want to know the thinking behind it. A case study in broscience. Conventional thinking is that slower digestion is helpful. These fellas ain't conventional.

lemurcat12

Jenigmatic wrote: »

I think body builders in general prefer eating high protein, low carb diets for the purpose of building muscle efficiently. If you're not looking to body build, there's nothing wrong with eating bread.

Classic bodybuilder meal (although this is bro science, not a recommendation) other than during contest prep, like psulemon says, is rice, chicken breast, broccoli -- high protein, plenty of carbs, low fat. Not low carb.

Rice and bread are functionally the same in how your body uses them. Nothing about bread would be bad for building muscle (so long as you also get adequate protein, of course).

Don't know why taking longer to break down would be a problem at all--as others have said it's usually good and anyway bread breaks down quite quickly, especially white bread. Maybe they mean as pre-workout fuel? Dunno.

As for sugar, most breads shouldn't have that much and if you are buying one that does find a different one.

Oh, and I personally don't like bread much at all, or (more accurately) I'm picky about it and don't like the usual supermarket packaged breads, so don't waste calories on it, but it's totally fine to eat.

lemurcat12

_SalmonSultan_ wrote: »

your body reacts to the sugar differently than it would to the sugar in fruits

Again, bread shouldn't have much sugar (unlike fruit), but your body doesn't treat the sugar itself differently at all. They are the same sugars (basically fructose and glucose, whether separate or combined into sucrose). Breads also may include honey instead of table sugar, but no difference and again not in large amounts. Yeah, some breads are sweeter as their seems to be a taste for that in the US (especially a honey and whole wheat combo), but read labels if it's a concern. Bigger point is that to your body it makes no difference.

Of course, to your body sugar and white flour aren't going to be treated much differently either.

What you may be referring to is that fiber in the fruit (some fruits have a lot, like berries, some don't really -- for the amount of sugar bananas don't have much fiber, which is why they digest quickly and are good for workouts). Fiber slows digestion, as others have said, including of the sugar, but that's so whether it's sugar in fruit or in a high fiber bread or in some oatmeal, etc. This idea that the sugar itself is different is untrue and drives me crazy. ;-)

Also, it's best to have whole grain bread in your diet as opposed to white bread because white bread won't provide as many of the nutrients you need and won't keep you full as long as whole grain/wheat bread.

I tend to prefer whole grain (well, specific kinds of whole grain) most of the time when I do eat bread because of the fiber and because it often also involves good things like seeds, but of course this also can make it more caloric. It's not clear how well we can digest all the nutrients in whole grains (bigger issue with brown rice) and the loss isn't that great anyway since white bread is going to be fortified. Usually whole grain will have a bit more protein and more nutrients, but I think the difference is often over-stated and if a packaged bread I'd read the label as there are lots of variations and not all whole grains are the same. In any case, I wouldn't rely on bread itself to contribute many nutrients -- its more of an energy source and for taste and what you eat with it matters more. (This is how I feel about pasta which is basically the same as bread to your body.)

As for how well/long it keeps you full, that varies from person to person and it makes more difference what you eat with it (as few will eat just plain bread unless it's right out of the oven, of course). I don't find any bread filling. (But as a side or part of a sandwich with protein and veg, it would be fine.)

HerbB52

There are some that think the reason for gluten intolerance has something to do with the wheat being GMO.

Michael190lbs

three energy drinks and 6 pieces of bread everyday down 100 lbs!! Its all about the calories...

cerise_noir

HerbB52 wrote: »

There are some that think the reason for gluten intolerance has something to do with the wheat being GMO.

No. GMO or not, gluten is gluten is gluten and is in wheat whether 'they' believe it or not. It's a protein.