Bread

Wheat · whole & refined

What's inside bread, and where does it go in your body?

One of the biggest sources of both fiber and sodium in many diets, depending on the loaf.

Whole vs refined

Whole-wheat flour keeps the bran (fiber) and germ (vitamin E, B vitamins). Refined flour is usually enriched with iron, B vitamins and folic acid.

Gluten

A protein network that gives dough stretch. People with celiac disease must avoid it; for others, avoiding gluten has no proven benefit.

Evidence & sources

• Whole grains contain the bran, germ and endosperm; refined grains keep mainly the endosperm. Evidence: established. Known: Standard definition used in US guidelines. Unknown: 'Multigrain' or 'wheat' on a label does not guarantee whole grain. Source: US Department of Agriculture & HHS, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 (2020).

Connected topics

• Fiber
• Carbohydrate
• Sodium
• Folate (B9)
• Iron

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General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.