What's the Deal With Ezekiel Bread?

Anyone who reads health and fitness magazines, blogs or websites has probably been introduced to Ezekiel bread...in text at least. So what IS Ezekiel bread and why is it a better choice than whole wheat or whole grain bread? Here's the lowdown:

What Is Ezekiel Bread?

Ezekiel bread is a bread made from sprouted grains. It's manufactured by Food for Life. According to the company, using live, sprouted grains increases the nutritional content of their breads and bread products. The term Ezekiel Bread comes from the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. (link to Ezekiel 4:9)

What Are Sprouted Grains?

Sprouting is the process of soaking seeds in order to bring about germination. Many seeds can be sprouted through this process. For instance, the most commonly known sprout is the alfalfa sprout. Wheat berries, spelt, rye and quinoa can also be sprouted. Food for Life uses a variety of grains in their Ezekiel bread products. According to Food for Life, sprouting is the only process that allows all of the nutrients in grain to be released. It also converts the glucose in grains to maltose, which may be more easily handled by the body without causing insulin spikes. It is for this reason that sprouted grain breads may be appropriate for some low carbohydrate diets and diabetic diets.

Ezekiel 4:9 Bread

When Food for Life sprouted the grains in the Bible verse and combined them, they found that the Ezekiel bread contained a complete protein similar to protein found in milk and eggs. The Bread contains all nine amino acids from vegetable protein sources. This makes it ideal for vegetarians and vegans. Ezekiel 4:9 bread is low in carbohydrates with just 15 net carbohydrates per slice of bread. The carbohydrates in the bread are of a more slow burning type that don't cause large spikes in blood sugar. It is a low glycemic index product that is appropriate for diabetic diets. It is also high in fiber.

The 4:9 bread contains sprouted wheat, barley and spelt so it is not gluten-free; however, Food for Life says that the active enzymes in the sprouted grains does make the gluten in it more digestible. People with gluten intolerance and Celiac disease should check with their health care provider and proceed with caution before trying the Ezekiel 4:9 bread products. Sprouting changes the way wheat is handled in the body. Check with your doctor if you have a wheat allergy.

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