HEALTH BENEFITS OF EZEKIEL BREAD

Medically reviewed by Kierra Brown, RDMedically reviewed by Kierra Brown, RD

Ezekiel bread has a hearty texture because it's made from a variety of sprouted grains and legumes. It's a good source of fiber and plant protein, and it's a complete protein. Each slice delivers all nine essential amino acids.

What sets sprouted grains like Ezekial bread apart is their superior digestibility. The sprouting process breaks down starches to release the nutrients contained in the grain. This makes it easier for your body to absorb more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential amino acids. Essentially, sprouting maximizes the nutritional potential of the grain or legume.

Improves Digestion

Fiber plays a pivotal role in digestion as it promotes regularity and supports your gut’s function. Ezekiel bread gets much of its fiber from its combination of sprouted grains: wheat, barley, millet, and spelt.

Grains are a particularly good source of insoluble fiber (the type of fiber that remains intact as it passes through your body). Insoluble fiber helps move nutrients through the digestive tract and promotes a healthy colony of gut bacteria.

The sprouted grains in Ezekiel bread may enhance its digestive benefits. Grains contain antinutrients, which are compounds (e.g., phytates) that block the absorption of certain nutrients. The sprouting process can reduce antinutrients to improve digestibility.

Sprouting also increases the activity of the amylase enzyme in the grain. Amylase breaks the grains’ starches down to simple sugars, including glucose (a sugar that's a primary energy source for the body). However, the resistant starches (the indigestible parts of sprouted grains) remain intact. These resistant starches benefit gut health,

Promotes Gut Health

Ezekiel bread's sprouted grains support your gut in various ways because the sprouting process activates grain enzymes. This unlocks stored nutrients within the grains and facilitates better nutrient absorption in your body. For example, better absorption of zinc helps support the strength of your gut’s protective lining. This prevents harmful substances from entering your intestines.

Sprouts are particularly rich in phenols. These plant compounds protect your gut from potentially harmful substances and support immunity.

Sprouts also contain resistant starches, dietary fiber, and short-chain carbohydrates (e.g., monosaccharides, or "simple sugars") that may help fuel probiotic growth. Probiotics are healthy strains of live bacteria that support a diverse, well-balanced colony of bacteria in your gut.

Supports Blood Sugar Control

Sprouted grains may also positively affect blood glucose (sugar) control. The fiber in whole grains slows the digestion of carbohydrates to keep blood sugars more stable. The sprouting process maximizes fiber and protein content, making it especially beneficial for reducing blood sugar spikes. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels keeps your energy levels even and reduces your risk for heart disease.

Made with sprouted grains and legumes, Ezekiel bread has 3 grams (g) of fiber and 5 g of protein per slice.

Supports Heart Health

Increasing plant proteins in the diet may reduce cardiovascular mortality risk. Larger intakes of plant protein (compared to animal proteins) have been shown to improve cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.

Sprouting also increases the grain or legume's overall nutritional quality. The process of sprouting breaks down proteins into smaller particles. This increases the availability of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and other bioactive compounds that offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Ezekiel bread is a source of plant protein with all nine essential amino acids, which makes it a complete protein. This high-quality protein is derived from its wide variety of sprouted grains and legumes.

May Aid in Weight Control

Higher intakes of whole grains are associated with lower body mass index (BMI), smaller waist circumference, reduced abdominal fat, and weight control support. Whole grains are defined as those with all their nutrient-rich essential components: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm.

Whole grains contain various types of dietary fiber. Beta-glucan and resistant starch type 4 are notable for their effect on satiety (feeling of fullness). Whole grains also contain bioactive components such as lignans and phytosterols, which may have metabolic effects that can influence your body composition. Sprouting increases the nutrient potential of whole grains, so sprouted grains may contain more of these substances.

As such, Ezekiel bread, with its variety of sprouted whole grains, may be useful in weight control. Ezekiel bread is also a low-calorie food with just 80 calories per slice.

Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a biased and outdated metric that uses your weight and height to make assumptions about body fat, and by extension, your health. This metric is flawed in many ways and does not factor in your body composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age. Despite its flaws, the medical community still uses BMI because it’s an inexpensive and quick way to analyze health data.

Nutrition of Ezekiel Bread

Ezekiel bread is made from four whole grains (wheat, barley, millet, and spelt) and two legumes (lentils and soybeans), all of which are organic and sprouted. Below is the nutritional profile for one slice of Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9, Sprouted Whole Grain Bread:

• Calories: 79.9
• Fat: 0.5 gram (g) 
• Sodium: 75 milligrams (mg)
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Added sugars: 0 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Magnesium: 25.8 mg, or 6% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Zinc: 1 mg, or 9% of the DV
• Iron: 1 mg, or 5% of the DV

Unlike most commercial wheat breads, Ezekiel is a flourless bread made with whole grains. By contrast, the grains in most commercial wheat breads have been refined into flour—stripped of their bran and germ to create a softer bread. This decreases the fiber and nutrients in the grain. The grains in Ezekiel bread have also been sprouted, adding to its superior nutrient density.

One slice of Ezekiel bread contains more fiber than wheat bread (1.16 g) and three times more fiber than white bread ( > 1 g). Ezekiel bread is also higher in protein and contains more nutrients, including magnesium, zinc, and iron.

Risks

Ezekiel bread is a safe, nutritious option. However, it is unsuitable for people with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity because it contains gluten from wheat, barley, and spelt.

If a person with Celiac disease consumes gluten, it damages the small intestine and causes symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. A person with gluten sensitivity may experience similar symptoms.

Tips for Including Ezekiel Bread in Your Diet

• Use it to make toast (e.g., avocado toast or with eggs and turkey or plant-based bacon)
• Make a chicken-salad, egg-salad, or tofu-salad sandwich using two slices of Ezekiel bread and crisp romaine lettuce
• Make a nut butter or cream cheese (or dairy-free cream cheese) and jelly sandwich
• Toast and cut it into “croutons” for a leafy green salad
• Make eggs-in-a-hole by cutting a circle out from the bread and cooking the rest of the slice on a skillet with an egg inside

A Quick Review

Ezekiel bread is packed with fiber, protein, and a wide variety of phytonutrients (plant nutrients that provide heart-protective, antioxidant effects). With six sprouted whole grains and legumes, it has a superior nutritional profile compared to most breads.

Ezekiel bread's sprouted grains and legumes contribute to its digestibility and gut-health benefits. The fiber and quality plant protein may also aid in blood sugar control, heart health, and weight management.

Though a nutrient-dense and low-calorie option, Ezekiel bread contains gluten. People with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should not consume it.

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2024-06-25T06:09:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd