Freezing bread could turn the carbs into fibre and aid weight loss, according to one doctor. Dr Karen Alarcón took to social media to share the trick she uses to get the most from her toast.
The doctor explained that the ideal way to eat bread while you’re trying to lose weight is by freezing it and then heating it up. Freezing bread has often been a go-to method in households to make the food last longer, but it has some surprising health benefits.
This temperature shift also converts carbohydrates into “prebiotic fibre”. Prebiotic fibre itself has a range of benefits like improving your gut microbiome and regulating glucose levels, reducing blood sugar spikes. This alone can improve your focus and energy levels while helping you to avoid cravings and overeating. Good glucose management has even been tied to better sleep and skin health.
Freezing bread also turns its digestible starches into resistant starches which are harder for your body to break down and more likely to be expelled. This lowers the number of calories you absorb from the bread in the first place while also aiding digestion and helping you feel fuller after eating.
Diabetes UK notes that incorporating more resistant starches into your diet increases your fibre intake and does not affect the appearance, taste or texture of the food. It noted you can sometimes find food products “fortified” with resistant starch.
These fortified alternatives offer the fibre equivalent of brown rice or wholemeal pasta. The organisation shared some suggested swaps including the frozen bread trick, having slightly under-ripe bananas and cooling potatoes after boiling them.
Furthermore, it is easier for your body to consume starches when they’re heated so reheating bread after it’s been frozen. This means “you’re likely to experience less bloating and gas”.
However, the doctor also warned that this trick will only work properly if you have high-quality bread to start with. According to Mujerhoy, the expert recommended sourdough and whole grain flour breads as the top quality.
This temperature trick also works with some other popular carbs that are usually first on people’s ‘ditch’ list when dieting. The doctor mentioned that with pasta and rice it’s best to cook it and then cool it in the fridge before eating.
Additionally, no heating or freezing hack will equal the benefits of an all-round balanced diet. The doctor pointed out that this includes a strong amount of vegetables and cutting out ultra-processed items where possible.