The 14 Healthiest Bread Brands You Should Be Buying
When it comes to nutrition, there are lots of conflicting ideologies out there. From keto to vegan to paleo, it can be confusing when you don't know what you're looking for. You've probably known someone who's cut out dairy, gluten, meat, sugar, or alcohol attempting to clean up their diet. If you go down the Google train, you may be feeling a little confused on what nutrients are actually healthy and what types of foods you should be eating.
Bread is often one of the first foods to be removed when it comes to "cleaning up" your diet. It's always such a sad and unwanted goodbye. However, we're here to tell you that you don't have to cut bread out completely to follow a healthy diet or live a healthy life. Instead, we'd recommend choosing healthier types of bread so that you have options to enjoy on those days where you really want toast or a sandwich. The following bread brands offer healthy types of bread that you should be buying. Not only do these types of bread not contain anything harmful or unhealthy, they actually contain some healthy ingredients that can offer you health benefits. That's right! Bread can actually offer you some health benefits.
The type of nutrient profile you want to look for in breads includes whole grains, high fiber and protein content, and low fat and sugar content. Read on to discover what these bread brands bring to the table.
1. Oroweat
Oroweat carries many types of breads that we've known and loved for years. Anyone else grow up exclusively on their potato bread?
While fairly mainstream, you may be surprised to learn that Oroweat is devoted to health. According to their website, they are committed to sourcing ingredients with "no added nonsense." This means that they avoid the use of high fructose syrup, artificial preservatives, bleached flour, and partially hydrogenated oils. We'll be honest — we had no clue! Oroweat even has a line of organic and non-GMO breads if that's what you are looking for. Their bread options with more fiber are especially hearty and a great way to seek out a low net carb bread. According to Prospect Medical, to calculate net carbs, you take the total grams of carbohydrates and subtract the grams of fiber.
Interestingly, upon checking out the brand's new keto-friendly bread, we were pleased to see that it's very high in fiber due to the added inulin, but not high in fat like most keto products.
2. Silver Hills
Silver Hills carries seventeen types of sprouted wheat bread. According to Healthline, sprouted whole grains have been linked to many health benefits including blood sugar control and prevention of chronic diseases. To sprout the grains, the grains are soaked in their whole form and allowed time to grow sprouts over the course of a few days (via The Kitchn). The act of sprouting can increase the nutrient content in the grains, including antioxidants, folate, and protein (via Healthline). Needless to say, these breads are incredibly healthy.
We love that the Silver Hills breads, like the Sprouted Power variety, are high in fiber, plant-based protein, and the good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids. Interestingly, they are also sweetened with date syrup, apple puree, or raisin nectar. How neat is that? It's so nice to see brands get creative with how to naturally sweeten products. Silver Hills is one of our favorite healthy bread brands out there.
3. Simple Truth
You may be familiar with the brand, Simple Truth as it's the Kroger generic line sold at Kroger grocery stores and its affiliates across the country, such as Frys. This brand offers many types of healthier breads including organic 100% whole wheat, organic quinoa multigrain, organic sprouted grain and legume, and organic multi seed bread. While they carry some other white bread varieties, we recommend seeking out their whole grain and high fiber options as these ones are healthier.
According to Healthline, fiber consumption has been linked with many health benefits including weight loss, blood sugar control, improved digestion, lower blood cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and even lowering your risk of diabetes, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Who knew eating fiber had so many benefits? Because you can find high fiber content in breads made from whole grains or with added seeds, we'd recommend sticking to these healthier options by Simple Truth.
4. Artisan Bakers
This Sonoma County-based bread brand offers five types of whole grain breads including organic super seed, organic flax & chia seeds, organic whole wheat, organic whole grain, and organic multi-grain, per their website. Per the nutrition label of these breads, they are high in fiber as well as plant-based protein. They also have a high content of omega-3 fatty acids.
According to VeryWell Health, omega-3 fatty acid consumption has been linked to reduced inflammation, a decreased risk of heart disease, reduced depression, a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease, control of autoimmune disease symptoms, increased brain health, as well as reduced risk of developing macular degeneration. Wow! That's a lot of different health benefits from one nutrient. To reap these health benefits, seek out breads with nuts and seeds like flax seeds, chia seeds, or walnuts. Not only will the nuts and seeds provide extra fiber content, they will also supply omega-3 fatty acid content, per Healthline. Win, win!
5. Pepperidge Farm
When you think of the brand Pepperidge Farm, do you think of Milano cookies or Goldfish crackers first? These are some of our favorite snacks. We have to admit that this brand may not be the first brand that comes to mind when trying to source a healthy bread product. However, in addition to cookies and crackers, Pepperidge Farm also carries a large variety of breads. While not all of their breads could be considered extra healthy, they do carry a handful of products that stand out as health-forward.
We'd recommend sticking to the following options: 100% whole wheat bread, multigrain bread, soft sprouted whole grain bread, whole grain 15 grain bread, or whole grain dark wheat bread. Remember, the idea here is to seek out whole grains and breads with high fiber content. Unfortunately, we wouldn't recommend the white bread or Italian-style varieties if pursuing a healthier option.
6. Canyon Bakehouse
Canyon Bakehouse is a gluten-free bread company. They sell many products that are entirely gluten free as well as dairy free, nut free, and soy free, making them a great option if you're someone with allergies. According to Healthline, a gluten-free diet is best suited for those with diagnosed celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The website also notes that many people can eat gluten without experiencing any negative health-related side effects. In other words, don't give up eating gluten because you heard it was "healthier" to do so. You may be better off eating gluten, but sticking to high quality whole grain breads.
Making a whole grain bread that's gluten free can be slightly limiting, as gluten is found in whole grains like wheat, barley, and rye, according to Healthline. Canyon Bakehouse does a great job supplying gluten-free, high-fiber, whole-grain breads. We'd recommend the 7-grain, multigrain, ancient grain, or heritage style whole grain.
7. Udi's
Udi's is another line of gluten-free products including many gluten-free bread varieties such as hearty sprouted grains, hearty 7 seeds & grains, omega flax & fiber, whole grain sandwich, and millet-chia bread, according to their website.
They also carry some less healthy bread options such as cinnamon raisin bread and soft white bread. Since the goal in choosing healthy breads is to seek out high fiber options, these two wouldn't be the healthiest as they do not contain high amounts of fiber.
Gluten is responsible for the rise and texture in many types of gluten-containing breads. One other point to consider when choosing gluten-free breads is that they often contain other stabilizers and starches to help gluten-free bread achieve a normal bread texture. These additives or resistant starches can be healthful for many individuals, including those with irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) (via Verywell Health). Whether you have IBS or not, you may benefit from consuming more of these resistant starches.
8. Happy Campers
The Happy Campers brand carries many types of gluten-free and wheat-free bread, including Buckwheat Molasses, Hemp Hemp Hooray, Classy Slice, and Cravin' Raisin Cinnamon Spice, according to their website. These sliced breads are great options for those suffering from celiac disease, as they contain a high amount of fiber from gluten-free grains.
While all of the brand's breads are gluten free, they also contain pea protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber, per their website. Wait, what's the difference between probiotics and prebiotics, again? According to Healthline, prebiotics are a type of fiber that provide nutrients for the healthy bacteria in your gut. It's important to eat prebiotic foods in order to create a healthy digestive system. Prebiotic fiber feeds the probiotic bacteria so they can produce short nutrients for the cells in your large intestine. Who knew you could reap these health benefits from eating bread, and gluten-free bread at that?
9. Alvarado Street Bakery
Alvarado Street Bakery carries a line of sprouted whole grain breads. These breads are high in fiber and plant protein because they're made from sprouted whole grains.
Because they are high in protein and fiber, these breads are a great, low-glycemic option. The glycemic index of various foods refers to how the foods impact your blood sugar after consuming them, according to Verywell Health. Foods that are considered "high glycemic" cause a spike in blood sugar. Over time, repeated blood sugar spikes can lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and increased risk of obesity. Foods that are considered "low glycemic," cause a normal increase in blood sugar, avoiding dangerously high spikes. According to Healthline, sprouted whole grains, high fiber, high fat, and high protein foods typically fall on the lower side of the glycemic index, proving to be very healthy for those who want to improve control of their blood sugar.
10. Base Culture
Base Culture is a brand that carries several grain-free, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly breads. Because these breads are grain free, they obviously lack in whole grains. However, Base Culture makes up for the lack of whole grains by adding in other sources of fiber, such as seeds and nuts. For example, many of their breads, like the 7 nut & seed bread, are made from flax seeds and almond flour. These ingredients are great sources of fiber and plant protein, per Healthline.
Their keto bread is ideal for those following a keto diet. It is high in fiber, low in carbs, but interestingly, not high in fat, like many keto diet products. In addition to their keto bread, they also carry soft sandwich bread, simple white bread, sourdough bread, 7 nut & seed bread, cinnamon raisin bread, and even cheese bread, per their website. If you are following a low grain or gluten-free diet, these breads are a great option to try.
11. Angelic Bakehouse
Angelic Bakehouse is yet another brand of sprouted whole grain breads. These breads are low in sugar, high in fiber, and high in protein, according to their nutrition labels. They also do not contain any stabilizers or preservatives, making them some of the healthiest breads available. Angelic Bakehouse carries sprouted whole grain bread, wheat bread, sprouted whole grain rye bread, raisin wheat bread, low sodium bread, and even no added salt bread.
For those who are managing hypertension, or high blood pressure, too much added salt from food can be harmful for heart health, according to the American Heart Association. While probably not what you think of to be extra salty foods, surprisingly, breads and rolls can contain high levels of sodium. By choosing low-sodium or no salt-added foods, including foods such as bread, you can help to lower your overall salt intake, which can benefit heart health. We'd recommend the Angelic Bakehouse breads for this reason.
12. Dave's Killer Bread
Dave's Killer Bread is one of our personal favorites. These breads contain whole grains and seeds, making them high in fiber, high in omega 3 fatty acids, and high in protein due to the inclusion of seeds as ingredients. For instance, the 21 whole grains and seeds version has 5 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 260 milligrams of ALA omega-3 fatty acids per slice of bread. Dave's Killer Bread has a variety of flavor options, including the aforementioned 21 whole grains and seeds, good seed, white bread done right, powerseed, 100% whole wheat, and righteous rye, according to their website.
All of these breads are also offered in thin-sliced, which are smaller slices, marketed to those who do not want big slices of bread, such as children or individuals looking to lose weight. In addition to these breads, the brand also carries bagels, English muffins, burger buns, and snack bars. Because of the variety of products, Dave's Killer Bread is one of our favorite brands. They've got a bread product for every type of meal.
13. Ezekiel
Food for Life's Ezekiel bread is another favorite bread brand of ours. These sprouted-grain breads are truly exceptional for your health. They are high in fiber, high in plant-based protein, and contain no flour, according to their website.
We've found that these breads taste best when heated in a toaster. Otherwise, they are a bit tough to chew and break down. Because these breads do not contain any preservatives to help keep them fresher longer, we've found that they do not last a long time at room temperature in our pantries. Instead, we store ours in the freezer in order to make them last a longer time. Our favorites are the sesame sprouted whole grain bread or the cinnamon raisin sprouted whole grain bread. In addition to these breads, they also carry a line of gluten-free breads if you are looking for a good gluten-free option, as well as buns, cereals, and even pasta.
14. Simple Kneads
Another gluten-free bread brand for all those avoiding gluten is Simple Kneads. Considering that these breads are completely gluten free, it's surprising that they contain a decent amount of fiber. This is because they source other types of whole grains that do not contain gluten. This line carries four types of breads including sourdough, cinnamon raisin sourdough, pumpernickel, and quinoa power grains. Additionally, the Simple Kneads brand prides themselves on avoiding use of starches or gums in their products, per their website.
The Simple Kneads bread brand carries many types of bread that are free from the top nine most common allergens. These common allergens include wheat, eggs, dairy, tree nuts, soy, peanuts, sesame, baker's yeast, and rice, per their website. For those with allergies, or parents of kids with allergies, buying an allergen-free brand can be incredibly comforting. This is our top bread brand recommendation for those who deal with food-related allergies.