I Eat Bread When I Want To

Romanians have had an emotional and sensitive relationship with bread

Luiza Moldovan, 07.09.2022, 05:36

Romanians have had an emotional and sensitive relationship with bread. If, in the famines after wars, they would have given anything for a piece of bread, now, in full consumerist mode, they have higher expectations from it. Also, back in the sad days of the Ceausescu dictatorship, black bread was considered under par. Now we look for it, because nutritionists told us it is good for you. However, we have another problem: black bread is full of coloring agents. We no longer know if it is healthier, or if it makes you fatter. No matter what they read on the Internet, Romanians love bread and would not have a meal without it.

We spoke to fitness trainer Andrei Neagu, who told us that we would do better to try and avoid it. Is bread good for us or not? Andrei Neagu answers:

“This is a question that I encounter a lot in my fitness gym. I get asked by my clients, people who go to the gym often, or just people who want an answer. There is no such thing as good or less good bread. It is just a product which, nutritionally, doesnt help us in any way, be it for putting on muscle mass, for losing weight, for maintaining tone… it doesnt. Why? Because of its high glycemic index, which is fairly high. For instance, glucose has about 100, bread has about 70. First of all, think about what can a product offer you when it costs 30 or 40 Eurocents for about half a kilo. What could that product contain? Thats the first question you have to ask yourself.”

You have probably noticed that bread you buy doesnt go moldy, even a few days after purchase. Andrei Neagu explained how the fabrication process affects the finite product:

“This is another good question, about the process of production. Well, at home you can put in it whatever you wish. You have many options: you can make it worth 5 lei, make it worth 20 lei, or 30, from 1 Euro to 6. You have rye, whole wheat, rice, barley, you can add seeds, chia, whatever you want. However, in the industrial area, think about the fact that, in a proportion of 70 to 80%, bread factories use additives, ready-made mixes, they use stabilizers, otherwise the bread wouldnt be puffy or mold free on the fourth or fifth day. Which is not normal for a piece of bread or any other product that is made of flour of any kind, white, black, or any other kind.”

Sourdough is very fashionable. Internet marketing campaigns, some of them very clever, have slowly influenced the collective impression that sourdough would be superior, nutritionally, to yeast bread. In fact, this is not so. Neither is better than the other, according to Andrei Neagu:

“This issue with sourdough is very much discussed. But, to be honest, sourdough is an agent for fermentation. We, the people either in this industry, of fitness, or any other one, although I am speaking strictly of my area, they all try to find workarounds, shortcuts, something to offer them comfort and pleasure. I cannot deny it, you cant have eggplant salad or tarama salad without bread, it cant be done. At the same time, we look for more pompous things, more unusual, but the process is the same, the nutritional value is the same, it by no way means one kilo more or less, or a radical change in the body, or things of this nature. It is the same process, be it sourdough or yeast.”

Andrei Neagu believes that Romanians need better nutrition education. He points out that none of the food options we have are without serious consequences on the body.

“We Romanians have no nutritional education whatsoever. What the Internet offers today, a huge range to search in, so you can learn by yourself, but you really dont want to do that. Why? Because bread is something that offers pleasure. Which is why it creates addiction. In some cases, at least. It excites the brain and relaxes it. Why? Because of that high glycemic index. Which why we, Romanians, cannot give it up. We dont have a target. We lack the wish to do something about it. We keep on going, we have the premise You only live once, I want to eat, drink, have a good time.” But, when the body can no longer cope, and you get to the doctor, then it will be very difficult. Type 2 diabetes, for instance. That is when you have to give up white bread, you will not longer be allowed to eat a lot of things.”

Bread slows down the body and cognitive activity. The blood sugar level can send you to the doctor. In essence, bread should not be a part of every day food. Here is Andrei Neagu:

“Yes, bread puts on weight, of any kind it may be. Be it whole wheat, white, with all kinds of seeds. Yes, bread makes you fat. And I am saying that from the perspective of a high performing athlete, I say it as a trainer, I say it as a person who wanted to make a change, who had severe rickets, and bread didnt help me. Even though I eat a lot, I am a foodie, I usually prefer chicken breast, broccoli and rice, to the detriment of a couple of slices of bread. I am sure it would feed my brain, that it would be pleasing, but the body wont respond properly to the daily activities I have, to the effort I make, the training I do. I mean, any activities I have at the gym or outside of it. Bread brings no benefit to my body.”