October 5, 2014 - 3:54pm
History of bread?
In these times it seems like bread is one of the foods that is under attack: "too many carbs, made from refined grains, not what we were meant to eat. etc. etc." But I have a lot of trouble believing that bread is bad for us. After all, hasn't it been around for 100s of years? Does anyone have a link that discusses the true history of bread and how it was eaten and prepared throughout history? I would just like to educate myself, so that the next time someone attacks bread I can at least defend it with some credibility. Not that I really care if people choose to eat bread or not, but I would just like to know for at least myself and my family. Thanks.
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There has been threads on this forum that discussed the history of bread. I would google (history of bread), or (history of sourdough bread). Nice topic to read, by the way.
Best wishes,
Khalid
6000 Years of Bread is a pretty good read on the subject.
second that ! Awsome read!
There is a new Facebook group on bread history: https://www.facebook.com/groups/breadhistory/. I think that this might make a good question for that group. I wrote a book on bread history called "Bread, a global history." You can find it Amazon.
Obviously, you are asking a huge question. I think what we can say is that the current idea that bread in all its forms is bad for you is a new idea. Historically, some people felt that sour bread was bad for you while others thought that yeasted bread was bad for you. A diet in which you derived a majority of your calories from white bread would clearly not be good for you. But in the quantities we eat bread there is no scientific basis for eliminating bread from your diet.
Bread is the food that enabled the civlizations of the Fertile Crescent to prosper. Bread built the pyramids and they built the civilizations of Europe. If you are of Middle Eastern, North African or European descent then you are descendent from bread eaters. I think that you right to ask about the past in trying to understand what is good to feed your family. And also to wonder at just what is going on today!
The Book is the end all re your question. Interesting note is that it was written by a holocaust survivor.