Real Bread: What It Is & Why it’s Much Better for Your Health

For over 60 years, the art of traditional, authentic, artisan Italian breadmaking has been at the heart of what we do at Panificio Italiano. 

However, since the turn of the century, bread has, rather unfairly, garnered a reputation as an enemy of modern eating habits. The truth is that it’s naive to assume that every loaf of bread, and it would be disingenuous to compare real, artisan bread and highly processed bread like for like. 

With that in mind, it’s prudent to explore what separates real bread from the products that are the subject of this criticism. Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you’ll be more convinced that quality means everything.

What Exactly Is ‘Real’ Bread?

When we refer to real bread, we’re referring to the staple, simple product that’s made with a handful of quintessential ingredients: flour, water, salt, and natural yeast or sourdough starter. 

At Panificio Italiano, our rich Sicilian heritage has taught us that the finest bread requires time, patience, and respect for traditional methods. This is what has set us apart from other wholesale Italian bakeries.

Unlike many of the highly processed products lining supermarket shelves, the real bread you don’t see every day contains no artificial preservatives, emulsifiers, or chemical additives. The difference lies not just in what goes into the bread, but in how it’s made. 

Real breads made with quality ingredients provide nourishment and enough energy so that you feel full for much longer, unlike many commercial products which often leave you hungry within a matter of hours.

The Health Benefits of ‘Real’ Artisan Bread

Better digestibility – Artisan bread, particularly sourdough loaves, undergo extended fermentation processes. This causes the gluten and the starches to break down naturally and without being rushed, making artisan bread far easier on your digestive system. When making our Italian breads, our processes allow for the natural enzymes to break down proteins and starches during slow fermentation. The end result is bread products (seasoned and flavoured to your specifications) that’s gentler on sensitive stomachs and potentially suitable for those with mild gluten sensitivities.

Improved blood sugar control – One of the biggest advantages of real bread is its efficiency at helping people control their blood sugar levels. The complex carbohydrates in real bread are digested slowly, helping to regulate blood sugar more effectively. Fresh bread often has a lower glycemic index, meaning it is incredibly unlikely to spike your blood sugar.

Nutritionally rich – Artisan Italian bread provides antioxidants, fibre, and whole grains, combining to make a nutritious array of bread options. The nutritional value helps consumers lower their risk of diabetes, digestive issues, and fluctuating blood sugar levels. The salient point is that floud, if handled with care and fermented properly, it retains more of its natural ingredients, creating bread that’s nourishing, as opposed to unwholesome.

It’s All in the Breadmaking

At Panificio Italiano, we understand that great bread isn’t just about ingredients. It’s also about honouring time-honoured techniques. Our founder, Piero Scacco, brought decades of Sicilian baking wisdom to the UK, to the point where we now, after several years of honouring the same techniques at the heart of our business, we operate a state-of-the-art wholesale bakery that marries real Italian methods with modern innovation and technology.

Our (and, by extension the Italian) approach to breadmaking emphasises:

• Slow, extended fermentation: We allow our dough to develop naturally, sometimes over 24 hours or more. This patient process creates complex flavours whilst breaking down difficult-to-digest compounds.
• Quality over quantity: Each bread product, from our loaves and bloomers to our brioche and focaccia, is crafted with unmatched attention to detail. We select the best quality flours and natural ingredients to ensure each product is as exquisite as can be.
  
• Artisan expertise: Fermentation appears to be longer and/or more intense in artisanal soft bread, and this expertise makes all the difference in creating bread that’s both delicious and nutritious.

The Case for Artisan Bread: Why Your Body Will Thank You

The contrast between artisan bread and heavily-processed alternatives becomes clear once you understand what you’re actually eating. With artisan bread like that from Panificio Italiano, you have products with zero additives to extend shelf life and speed up production. Instead, our homemade bread gives us the freedom to select quality ingredients and nurture the natural fermentation process that gives authentic artisan bread its quality texture and flavour. 

When you choose real bread, whether it’s our traditional ciabatta, artisan bread rolls, or sourdough varieties, you’re choosing food that works with your body rather than against it. You’ll notice the difference in how satisfied you feel, how steady your energy remains, and how much more you actually enjoy eating bread.

Order Quality Wholesale Italian Bread Today

Contrary to popular belief, bread isn’t the enemy. 

At Panificio Italiano, we’re proud to continue the Italian tradition of creating high-quality bread that nourishes both body and soul. We know that when bread is made properly, with patience and top-quality ingredients, it becomes what it was always meant to be: a healthy, satisfying and nourishing food.

Contact our team today to learn more about our wholesale artisan bread range and how we can help you offer your customers the authentic taste and health benefits of real Italian bread.