Bread is a simple yet timeless food whose roots can be traced back to antiquity and since the dawn of agriculture, it has been an integral part of our diet so much so that it has earned a coveted position of being one of the staple diets of many cultures and countries. It's not only a part of religious rituals but its cultural and social significance is pretty evident by the fact that it has become a metaphor for basic necessities of life and no wonder has found its way into numerous idiomatic phrases, such as,  "breadwinner", " earn bread and butter", etc. 
  
Bread is made of soft squishy dough of flour and water, which is either leavened or left unleavened. Though it is also made from the flour of other grains like rye, corn, barley, rice, etc, bread is usually identified with the wheat grain. 
 
There are two kinds of leavened wheat bread available in stores: White bread and Whole Wheat bread (also called Whole Grain).

Let us look into the difference between whole wheat bread and white bread. 

 White bread has been quite popular but lately, whole wheat bread is regaining its prominence owing to the several advantages it holds over white bread. As people are becoming more health-conscious, they are developing an inclination towards food packed with nutritional benefits.  

 Whole wheat bread is certainly a healthier choice in many ways. 

Anatomically a wheat grain is essentially comprised of  three parts ; 

Bran- the outer covering which is rich in fibre and contains good fat as well 

Germ- the innermost part that's nutritionally dense containing lot of protein 

Endosperm - the starchy part in between  

 Whole wheat flour is produced by processing wheat berries in such a way that these three nutritionally rich parts are included and hence, it retains almost all the nutrients of the grain.  Whereas, White flour is predominantly made from endosperm and is stripped off the bran and the germ. While it is refined, white flour loses a wide range of nutrients in the process. 

 Whole wheat bread has plenty of fibre while the fibre in white bread is almost nil. 

We all are well aware that fibre is extremely helpful to our bodies in several ways. It not only aids in digestion but also lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Switching from white bread to whole wheat bread can lower heart disease by 20% according to research from the University of Washington reported in the April 2, 2003 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. 

 Another demerit white bread possesses is that it is bleached. Certain chemicals are used to lend that distinctive whiteness to white flour. Some of these chemicals may be 

benign but the usage of a harmful bleaching agent called alloxan is widely speculated in some countries.  Alloxan has a negative impact on our bodies. It is not only toxic but also destroys the beta cells of the pancreas and is known to be a contaminant that can cause diabetes. 

So while whole wheat bread is much higher in fibre, vitamins B6 and E, magnesium, zinc, folic acid and chromium, white bread is practically devoid of fibre and these essential nutrients. 

 Whole wheat bread is said to cut the risk of heart attack and diabetes while refined food products like White bread supposedly doubles the risk of procuring diabetes as refined grains tend to have a higher Glycemic index. 

Weighing the health benefits of whole wheat bread as against the lower level of vital nutrients and fibre found in white bread, coupled with its harmful effects on the body,  whole wheat bread certainly is the winner. 

 So next time when you want to wake up yourself to a new day with the crispy crackles of toasts, or need a quick fix in form of a sandwich or have an urge to snack on some lip-smacking bread rolls, make sure to use Whole wheat bread to enjoy the scrumptious delicacies without compromising with your health and at the same time utilising the health benefits that the whole wheat bread has to offer.