Simple Bread

It's just "simple bread" 🍞... And, a little story about mixing dough for a simple loaf of bread. The ingredients are just flour, water, salt, yeast.., and a little patience 😊. Nothing complicated..

It wasn't about trying to bake anything special. But, a desire for the kitchen to be filled with the warm promise of fresh bread 😍.

"Simple bread" usually means a basic, minimal-ingredient bread made from just flour, water, yeast (or sourdough) and salt. It's the most fundamental type of bread with no eggs, milk, sugar, or oils needed.

So, what makes it "simple"? Well, it's simple bread because :

~ Only a few ingredients.

~ Easy mixing and kneading.

~ No special equipment.

~ Suitable for beginners.

~ Results in a rustic, chewy loaf with a crisp crust.

Anyway, "simple bread" can mean slightly different things.., but yes, bread made from just a few whole-food ingredients can be healthy, depending on how it's made and your dietary needs.

When simple bread is healthy, if it contains only :

~ Whole-grain flour such as whole wheat, rye and spelt.

~ Water.

~ Salt.

~ Optional : yeast or sourdough starter.

Then, it usually provides :

~ Fiber (supports digestion, stabilizes blood sugar).

~ B-vitamins.

~ Minerals like iron and magnesium.

~ Slow-release carbohydrates for steady energy.

Thus, the whole-grain or sourdough versions are generally the healthiest 😃.

However, when simple bread might not be as healthy, or even "simple" bread can be less ideal if :

~ It's made from refined white flour (low in fiber, spikes blood sugar).

~ You eat it in large amounts and need to manage carbs (diabetes, PCOS, insulin resistance).

~ You have gluten intolerance or celiac disease (then you need gluten-free options).

The very healthy example is Sourdough whole-grain bread, because fermentation improves mineral absorption, digestibility and may help moderate blood sugar 💗.

So, yes.. Simple, minimally processed bread (especially whole-grain or sourdough) can be a healthy part of a balanced diet. The quality of the flour matters much more than the number of ingredients 👍.

Speaking of "healthy simple bread", it's interesting when there's some bread where is a type of sprouted-grain bread made from a combination of whole grains and legumes 😳. It's actually inspired by a biblical verse (Ezekiel 4:9), which lists the typical ingredients and usually contains :

~ Sprouted wheat.

~ Sprouted barley.

~ Sprouted millet.

~ Sprouted spelt.

~ Sprouted lentils.

~ Sprouted soybeans.

Now, I think you have noticed the differences in how the word "sprouted" comes into the ingredients.. So, why "sprouted"? 😯.

It tells us that, the grains and legumes are soaked and allowed to sprout before being ground into dough. Sprouting can :

~ Improve nutrient absorption.

~ Reduce anti-nutrients.

~ Make the bread easier to digest.

~ Increase certain vitamins (like B vitamins).

And the characteristics will be :

~ Dense, hearty texture.

~ Nutty, slightly sweet flavour.

~ Often sold frozen because it lacks preservatives.

~ Usually no added sugar.

So, "Is it healthy?".. You asked 😁.. As people nowadays are much more aware of healthy food and concern about eating right or healthy diet, many consider it a nutrient-dense alternative to typical whole-wheat bread because it contains a complete protein profile (all 9 essential amino acids), and all thanks to the grain-legume combination 😄.

Anyway, when I get to learn about the biblical verse in Ezekiel, it says..

"Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it." - Ezekiel 4:9

The line "..put them into one vessel," which also means "..put them in a storage jar," is the method used to produce the "sprouted" grains and legumes before being ground into dough.

It basically means God's instruction to the prophet Ezekiel to make bread from a mixture of grains and legumes such as wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt, that need to be soaked and allowed to sprout first (in a storage jar) before they are ground into dough.

So, "Does that mean God wants us to eat healthily?" You asked.. Or, "Does God gives us the healthy recipe now?" 😂.

Anyway, "What's this all about?"..😳. In the Bible, this special bread is part of a symbolic act showing what life will be like during the coming siege of Jerusalem. The mixed ingredients represent scarcity and hardship, meaning people will have to use whatever ingredients they can find just to survive.

In short, Ezekiel 4:9 shows the coming struggle and limited food the people will face during judgment.

Now we know that the bread referenced in Ezekiel 4:9 was made only because there were no other resources. And while it sounds healthy, is it? 😅.

In the original context of the Bible, Ezekiel 4:9 was not meant as a recipe for healthy food. Instead, God instructed the prophet to mix grains and legumes to represent the meager and mixed-up food that people would be forced to eat during a harsh siege and famine. The recipe of mixed grains and legumes symbolized the extreme scarcity of that time. The bread was not for its nutritional value or taste, but was a symbol of hardship. It's a call to endurance which the act of eating this simple bread for 390 days was a prophetic sign to the people of Jerusalem that they should be prepared for such difficult times.

But, apart from the real context of the Bible, the sprouted-grain bread made from a mixture of whole grains and legumes, giving you more protein, fiber and micronutrients is healthy. Although, in the Bible, the main idea was not about healthy food 😬.

Yes, it can be a healthy choice, but it's not perfect for everyone. Whether it's "healthy" for you depends on your goals, dietary needs and how you use it. And, it's also a very healthy option compared to many conventional breads, but it's not a "superfood" that automatically makes everything healthy. It means that you should think about how it fits into your overall diet, how much you eat, and whether its nutritional characteristics align with your goals.

Compared to other bread options available in conventional supermarkets, it's more digestible than regular bread and has no added sugar in many variants. Thus, it's excellent for those looking to maximize the nutrition content of their food choices, especially when it comes to bread.

Overall, it's a nutrient-dense, wholesome bread choice if it fits your dietary goals! 💗.

Sprouted Multigrain Sourdough, A Stunning Achievement

However, above all else, it's widely taught that all true health and healing ultimately come from God. He is the One as the ultimate healer and sustainer of life, who can heal both physically and spiritually through various means. I think, it's important to always remember that the Lord is our Healer and that His Word is our medicine.

I believe, speaking Scripture over our lives does wonders for us, but only because it comes from God to begin with.. Healing always starts and ends with Him! 🙏.