Introduction:
Pita bread is known to be an ancient bread with many nutritional benefits. It is known for its nutrition, health benefits, and versatile ways of culinary uses. One can experiment with this nutrient-rich bread and can make a variety of dishes.
Why Is Pita Bread So Popular?
Pita bread has been in existence for surprisingly many centuries. Its roots can be traced back to the ancient civilization as well. Historical records show its value as a traditional and nutrient-rich food, having its place in ancient culinary history.
Pita bread is regarded to be one of the world's oldest bread varieties. It is rich in carbohydrates and other nutrients. Because of this, it is popular even today across the globe. Pita bread is primarily a yeast-leavened flatbread that is round in appearance and prepared from wheat flour. The wheat dough usually is into two layers when it is baked. The purpose of these double layers is to create a small space or pocket inside the bread that can accommodate to be filled with dips like hummus, vegetables, or even proteins. Some individuals also prefer stuffing their lean meats or vegetable-based proteins like falafel into the bread pockets. These breads have quite a soft consistency with a very low carbohydrate content in them. They are also packed with nutrients because it is primarily rich in wheat as opposed to the multigrain bread that may be prepared from all-purpose flours.
What Is the Nutrition Content of Pita Bread?
The nutrition information for approximately one serving of pita bread is around 39 grams or 1.3 ounces as enlisted by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) is as follows:
Carbohydrates: 0.599 Ounces.
Fiber: 0.070 Ounces.
Sugars: 0 Ounces.
Protein: 0.141 Ounces.
Fat: 0.035 Ounces.
Sodium: 0.004 Ounces.
Total Calories: 90.1 Kilocalories.
This traditional bread is surprisingly low in carbohydrates and extremely low in fat. This makes them a healthy option for any balanced diet. In comparison to even non-keto breads that serve around 0.70 ounces of carbohydrates per single slice, pita bread yields only around 0.599 ounces per slice.
Also, the estimated total lipid fats in this bread are below 0.070 ounces, which means that the fat can contribute to around 2 percent of the recommended daily amount (RDA) needed for the body. Additionally, pita bread is free from bad fats like trans or saturated fat.
0.141 ounces of protein can be obtained from a 1.37 ounces serving of this bread. One can also hope to gain around 0.0003 ounces of iron per serving of the pita bread which can equal to 6 percent of the RDA needed for iron. Iron is an important element in the body that is needed for hemoglobin production.
Pita bread may approximately contain 0.003 ounces of sodium which equals 5 percent of the RDA of sodium needed. According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), foods containing 5 percent or below are considered low-sodium preparations.
A single serving of pita bread would yield around 90 kilocalories which means that one would be consuming a much lower number of calories than one does by eating two whole-grain breads.
What Are the Health Benefits of Pita Bread?
The health benefits of pita bread are:
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Good for Diabetes: According to the information given by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), whole wheat present in pita bread would be extremely beneficial to regularize blood glucose levels and prevent blood sugar spikes after food consumption. The American Diabetes Association suggests choosing bread varieties that incorporate whole wheat grains such as whole wheat breads and pita bread. These can be healthier alternatives to white bread by preventing the blood sugar levels from spiking.
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Rich in Fiber: According to Nutritionists, it is important to consume more fiber for proper digestion and for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. The fiber content present in whole-grain pita bread would certainly benefit the digestive system. It also improves the number of healthy gut flora or microbiome by improving or regularizing bowel movements. Since pita bread is higher in complex carbohydrates, these tend to be digested more slowly in comparison to simple carbohydrates. This means one can stay satisfied after consuming pita bread, which prevents unhealthy food cravings. Preliminary nutrition research shows that consuming this bread regularly can assist in weight management due to its rich fiber content.
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Rich Protein Source: Pita bread is an excellent proteinaceous food that can contribute to nearly 8 percent of protein needs (based on a 2,000-calorie diet) according to the standard set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Protein-rich food can aid in healthy skin, hair, and nail growth and is beneficial for muscle repair and metabolism as well.
What Are the Possible Allergic Reactions?
Individuals with wheat allergies, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (intestinal sensitivity from gluten), gluten intolerance, or celiac diseases (chronic digestive immune disorder) may be prone to develop symptoms upon consuming pita bread. Hence such individuals can consult with nutritionists to find out their best alternative options for whole grain foods.
How to Use Pita Bread?
Pita bread is best consumed the same day it is baked. It dries out very quickly which is why consuming it in fresh conditions is beneficial. However; one can also try storing the bread wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for around one to two days maximum.
One can experiment with the pita bread in a versatile way. It can be used for making pita pocket sandwiches which can be filled with falafel, lean meat, and vegetables. It can also be consumed as an alternative to white or other whole-grain bread. One can also bake these breads to make pita chips or season the breads with paprika, and black pepper for making bread-based recipes or dishes. This can be consumed as croutons for a healthy breakfast in salads and soups as well.
Conclusion
Pita bread is an ancient bread variety. It is proteinaceous, low in fat content, low in carbohydrate content, and contains high fiber. The whole grain food can be easily substituted for other white breads or commercial whole grain breads as well. They are also rich in complex carbohydrates helpful in making good food. They also have several health benefits ranging from improved digestion, muscle health, and regularization of blood glucose levels in the body. They can also be an easy inclusion in weight loss diets. Only Individuals with wheat or gluten allergies should refrain from consuming these breads.
