French bread becomes a mandatory item in weight loss diets; see how to insert

On the grill, with butter, pâté, hot mix, sandwich, hamburger and even the famous vatapá in Bahia. There are several recipes based on bread, a food whose millenary creation is claimed by several countries. But, when it comes to weight loss, he was, until recently, left out. Now, however, its most famous version in Brazil, French bread, has become an almost mandatory item in diets.

If before it was passed over by the calories that threatened those who decided to cut carbohydrates, today it is a food that is part of the routine of those trying to lose weight. On social media, recipes such as bread with eggs or accompanied by healthy cheeses and other cold cuts are encouraged by nutritionists and influencers as good options for those who want to lose weight.

Professionals in the field heard by the Sheet say that it is, yes, possible to include food in the diet, as long as there is balance, moderation and variation in the menu.

Nutritionist Luciana Labidel, Master in Food, Nutrition and Health at UFBA (Federal University of Bahia), says that there are no impediments to the intake of bread in the diet, but emphasizes that the ideal is to make a prior nutritional assessment.

“It all depends a lot on the composition, the amount, the frequency with which the food is consumed”, he says. “In the evaluation, it is customary to check the eating habits to adjust the amounts according to the nutritional needs of each individual.”

Age group, lifestyle, level of physical activity, factors related to diseases are variants taken into account when the professional will estimate the ideal amount of each food, points out Labidel.

“If the person usually consumes three or four loaves of bread a day, but is overweight, or changes in blood glucose, we will guide them through a process of reeducation, so that they reduce the amount. Always based on individuality” , scores.

According to the professional, bread can be eaten even on low-carbohydrate diets. “Even because it is a source of energy, especially for those who do physical activities”, she says.

Nutritionist Jamile Baptista indicates, for those who already have a personalized menu for weight loss, to associate bread with some protein. “Like cheese, beef, chicken, tuna, along with lettuce and tomato, to increase the nutritional value of the food.”

Although he also does not condemn French bread during diet times, Baptista suggests consumption on alternate days.

In this sense, the nutritionist recommends replacing it, for example, with natural fermentation breads. “Or other varieties, like corn bread or almond flour.”

In the case of whole-grain breads, professionals call attention to the need to observe the composition on the product label, as they are not always, in fact, whole-grain.

“Breads with wholemeal flour have a greater benefit because of the amount of fiber”, points out Labidel. “But it has to be the first component of the list of ingredients. Otherwise, it is not integral in fact. Even so, there has to be a moderate consumption”, he adds.

“Often, when we look at the composition, instead of wholemeal flour, the first item is special flour, which is just refined white flour”, points out Baptista. “Sometimes the second item is sugar. How is a diabetic person going to eat this bread?”, he asks.