What’s Whole Grain Pita Bread?

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Whole wheat pita is a type of flatbread that is baked with whole wheat flour. Bakers may use different types of wheat flour when making this type of bread. Regardless of the type used, however, the key is that the whole grain was used to make the flour. This makes whole grain pita bread more nutritious than similar breads made from refined flour.

Pita bread has been around for centuries. Especially popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, the bread itself is round and flat and, when cut, has a distinctive pocket in the middle. Due to the fact that the bread is only slightly leavened, meaning bakers use very little yeast in the dough, it is thin and pliable. People often hide their favorite sandwich fillings in their pockets or use bread to scoop up healthy dips, like hummus.

Some pita breads are made with refined white flour, but in other cases they are baked with whole-wheat flour, thus creating a more nutritious whole-wheat pita. The term whole grain basically means that the entire kernel of the grain has been milled to make the flour. This includes the grain’s outer shell, called the bran, the softer center, called the endosperm, and the tiny seed inside, called the germ. Refined flour, on the other hand, uses only the endosperm.

The bran and germ of any grain contain the lion’s share of nutrients. As a result, whole wheat flour is a much healthier choice than refined flour. For the most part, whole-wheat pita bread is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, iron, and fiber. Some studies suggest that consuming whole grains like those found in whole-wheat pita bread may reduce the risk of some serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, evidence also suggests that whole-grain products can help people maintain healthy weights.

People can usually find whole wheat pita bread made with different types of wheat. While wheat is the most commonly seen type, barley, rye and spelt are also popular choices. Manufacturers may also use different types of grain to make a bread, thus varying the flavor and texture. For example, some pita breads have up to 12 different types of grains and therefore have fuller, crazier textures and flavors.

As a warning, some manufacturers use advertising tricks to suggest their pita bread is whole grain when it isn’t. For example, some products might be labeled as multigrain, and while that means they’re made from a variety of different grains, it doesn’t necessarily mean that whole grains were used. To be certain, people should always check the ingredients listed on the label to make sure the pita bread was made using whole wheat flour.

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