The Best And Worst Bread Brands That Can Make Or Break Your Diet
Those who are trying to lose or maintain their weight may believe that they shouldn't eat any bread at all. While some people have no problem giving up the delicious carbohydrates, it doesn't need to be an all-or-nothing situation. There are some bread brands that are surprisingly healthy-- but just as many others that should be avoided!
Best: Schmidt Old Tyme
One of the oldest bread brands that are still thriving today is Schmidt Old Tyme. After 135 years, they are still able to offer a selection of healthy varieties.
Their bread is low-carb, low-calorie, and high-fiber. Schmidt's Old Tyme wheat bread is able to keep a fresh taste while being cholesterol-free and low in fat.
Worst: Stroehmann Dutch Country
The 100 percent whole-wheat name is a bit deceiving when it comes to Stroehmann Dutch Country bread. They have a bunch of cheap additives in their bread that make it overly processed.
Ingredients such as mono- and diglycerides and ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides are extremely toxic. They can cause clogged arteries and are a human carcinogen.
Best: Sola
People who are on low-carb diets such as keto may want to give Sola bread a try. It's high in protein and low in sugar.
In order for the bread to have a naturally sweet flavor, it's made using the brand's signature Sola sweetener, which contains stevia, allulose, erythritol, and monk fruit.
Worst: Bimbo
While Bimbo bread products say they are made with whole grain, it's not even listed until the third ingredient. The top two are white flour and water.
The reason why Bimbo bread is unhealthy is because of the sugar content. The added sugar is actually higher in the whole grain versions because they want it to be as sweet as their white bread.
Worst: Sun-Maid
While Sun-Maid is best-known for their boxes of raisins, they also make a cinnamon swirl raisin bread.
If a bread tastes like a dessert, then that should be a sign that it's significantly unhealthy. One slice of this bread has 100 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 130 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbs, and eight grams of sugar.
Best: Silver Hills
Those who want to try sprouted bread with tons of seeds and grains should consider getting Silver Hills.
Sprouted bread is easier for the body to digest and is an excellent source of energy for the day. Healthline states that sprouted grains can help with weight loss and can prevent chronic diseases.
Best: Oroweat
One of the greatest things about Oroweat is that they strive to not include any additives such as high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils to their bread.
Oroweat has a variety of healthy varieties that are both organic and non-GMO. Their original oatnut bread scored low on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) index, so it's not toxic for the body or environment.
Worst: Sunbeam
There are many warning signs when it comes to Sunbeam bread, especially the Texas toast variety. It's extra thick and contains a bunch of harmful additives including soybean oil and calcium peroxide.
There's also an ingredient called azodicarbonamide, which is also one of the materials used for making yoga mats. Azodicarbonamide can cause health risks such as asthma, allergies, and cancer.
Best: Nature's Own
Those who are looking for a lot of variety should feel fine eating Nature's Own bread. They don't use artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, or high-fructose corn syrup.
Nature's Own bread also has no trans fat, which is the worst type of fat. One of their healthiest options is the thick-sliced rye bread, which is low in fat and has no cholesterol.
Worst: Sara Lee
Even though Sara Lee makes a ton of light, heart-healthy, and whole wheat options, they still are one of the worst bread brands for your health.
Sara Lee is made with low-calorie fiber fillers such as wood-pulp-derived cellulose fiber and artificial sweeteners. These can damage gut health and throw off the brain's sugar calibration.
Best: Angelic Bakehouse
A sprouted bread brand that has proven health benefits is Angelic Bakehouse. Their 7-grain bread is low in sugar and high in protein and fiber.
Angelic Bakehouse is great for those with gastrointestinal issues because they are free of nuts, dairy, eggs, and high-fructose corn syrup. They also press their already-made bread into the dough to give it even more flavor.
Worst: Glutino
Those who are gluten-free are very limited in the kinds of foods they can eat and that is especially true for bread.
Glutino prides itself on being a gluten-free bread, but there are some things to reconsider. This bread is mostly made up of water, tapioca, and corn and potato starches, so there are little to no nutrients.
Best: Base Culture
Those who don't want any gluten, grains, preservatives, or dairy in their bread should pick up some Base Culture.
They make loaves for different diets such as one with pure paleo ingredients and a keto version with almond butter and flaxseed meal. The bread has a sweet flavor due to the nuts, fruits, and seeds inside.
Worst: King's Hawaiian
If there's one bread that people should avoid at all costs, it's King's Hawaiian. Their buns are made up of nearly 50 different chemicals, additives, and preservatives.
The top ingredients include sugar, liquid sugar, honey, and invert syrup, which can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and other chronic health issues.
Best: Food For Life
Something that sets Food For Life apart from other bread brands is that instead of being displayed on the bread aisle, it's found in the freezer section.
There are no preservatives such as wheat starch and BHT, so it can last up to a year in the freezer. Some healthy options to try are their sprouted grain, whole-grain, and gluten-free bread.
Worst: La Brea Bakery
If you're considering getting some bread for La Brea Bakery, then it's important to know its nutritional value. For example, one of their Telera rolls has 240 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 470 milligrams of sodium, 47 grams of carbs, and three grams of sugar.
Those who need to keep an eye on their weight and blood pressure should avoid this bread brand.
Best: Arnold
Arnold has a ton of healthy bread varieties that range from their Carb Counting multi-grain bread, rye bread, and other organic and non-GMO options.
Their products are free of high-fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial preservatives and colors, potassium bromate, SSL/CSL, azodicarbonamide, and bleached flour. Most of their loaves are low in carbs as well.
Worst: Thomas'
A slice of Thomas' bread is almost like a dessert. With varieties such as cinnamon swirl and cinnamon raisin, the high sugar content is through the roof.
It also lacks a significant amount of the daily recommended fiber intake. One slice of their cinnamon raisin bread is 80 calories, has 1.5 grams of fat, 120 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbs, and six grams of sugar.
Best: Pepperidge Farm
While Pepperidge Farm isn't necessarily the healthiest bread brand at the grocery store, there are still several benefits.
Their whole wheat, 7-grains, oatmeal, multigrain, and soft wheat bread are excellent sources of grains and fiber. Having whole grains regularly can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Worst: Wonder Bread
Those who grew up during the 20th century will certainly remember the iconic look of the Wonder Bread bags. While this bread is surely nostalgic, it's also extremely unhealthy.
Since it's made up of simple carbs, the body digests it quickly and it messes with your blood sugar. This leads to extra cravings and more calories consumed.
Best: Udi's
People who cannot incorporate gluten into their diets may want to consider trying Udi's gluten-free bread. They have several different varieties including whole grain, 7 seeds and grains, and ancient grain.
Their bread is made from tapioca starch, brown rice flour, and millet, so it's also a great bread for those trying to lose weight.
Worst: Martin's
One bread brand that is almost completely devoid of fiber is Martin's. Their potato bread contains refined grains, which have been stripped of their fiber content.
Since this bread lacks fiber, it will cause people to feel hungrier and consume more calories. One slice of Martin's potato bread has 90 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 105 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbs, and three grams of sugar.
Best: Alvarado Street Bakery
Sprouted whole grains are one of the healthiest bread options and Alvarado Street Bakery specializes in them. They offer a giant assortment with varieties such as sourdough, rye seed, and wheat Sonoma seeds.
Alvarado Street Bakery is great for those who need a low-glycemic option because it can help with weight loss, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
Worst: Burgen
While Burgen bread might appear healthy due to the soya and linseed, it's actually one of the worst on the market.
It's packed with calories, fat, saturated fat, and sugar. Just one slice of their Premium Soya and Linseed loaf has 287 calories, 11 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, and 4.2 grams of sugar.
Best: Happy Campers
People who have food sensitivities need to find the right things to consume. Happy Campers is a perfect option because it's certified gluten-free, organic, and non-GMO.
It's also free of added sugars and major allergens and it's vegan. Their classy sliced bread is packed with whole-grain buckwheat, quinoa, and prebiotic fiber. This kind of fiber protects the immune system and is good for the bones.
Worst: Brownberry
Brownberry may appear to be healthy due to writing things such as "Heart Healthy" and "No High Fructose Corn Syrup" on the label, but it's misleading.
One serving of Brownberry 100 percent whole-wheat bread contains 110 calories, two grams of fat, 160 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbs, and three grams of sugar.
Best: Dave's Killer Bread
One of the most popular bread brands that are actually good for you is Dave's Killer Bread. People love it not only for the taste, but because it also uses high-quality, organic, and non-GMO ingredients.
They have a wide assortment of products including Powerseed, Goodseed, and even thin-sliced options with fewer calories.
Worst: Great Value
Great Value is the signature brand for Walmart and they make a ton of things including bread. However, Walmart shoppers should steer clear of this bread.
A serving size of their white sandwich bread has 120 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 220 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbs, and three grams of sugar.
Best: Canyon Bakehouse
While prepackaged bread may give people the idea that it's just a product from an assembly line, Canyon Bakehouse has a strong connection to homemade bread.
The brand came to be when people were experimenting with recipes in their kitchens. Their bread is gluten-free and is free of allergens such as nuts, soy, and dairy.
Worst: Mrs. Baird's
Mrs. Baird's prides itself on being one of the top bread brands to come from Texas, but it's not exactly the healthiest.
A serving of their sliced white sandwich bread has 110 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbs, one gram of sugar, and one gram of added sugars.
