The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

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70 - ‘Effect of sourdough fermentation on stabilisation, and chemical and nutritional characteristics of wheat germ’. Food Chemistry. 119, 1079–1089

Reference Number: 70

Year: 2010

Authors: Carlo Giuseppe Rizzello, Luana Nionelli, Rossana Coda, Maria De Angelis, Marco Gobbetti

Link: Link to original paper

Nutrition: Bioactive peptides | Minerals | Proteins | Vitamins

Lactic Acid Bacteria: Heterofermentative | Homofermentative

Inclusions: Wheat bran

Summary

Summary

Lactic acid bacteria strains were identified from wheat germ by 16S rRNA partial sequencing, subjected to RAPD-PCR typing and screened. Lactobacillus plantarum LB1 and Lactobacillus rossiae LB5 were used as starters to produce sourdough fermented wheat germ (SFWG). The chemical and nutritional characteristics of SFWG were compared to those of the raw wheat germ (RWG). Lipase activity in SFWG was ca. 2.6- fold lower than that found in RWG. As shown by SPME/GC/MS analysis, most of the volatile compounds derived from lipid oxidation during storage (40 days) were at markedly lower levels in SFWG compared to RWG. Fermentation of wheat germ increased of ca. 50% the concentration of free amino acids. Glu markedly decreased in SFWG, due to its conversion in GABA. The concentration of the anti-nutritional factor raffinose also decreased in SFWG. The in-vitro protein digestibility, the concentration of total phenols, phytase and antioxidant activities were increased by fermentation.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STUDY 

Due to its high nutritional value and palatability, wheat germ has been regarded as the nutritional treasure amongst food components. Although wheat germ may be the nutritional store house in wheat, not all the nutrients within it are readily absorbed by us when ingested (decreased bioavailability). The current paper states that the sourdough process helps increase the bioavailability of wheat germ thereby making it more readily available for absorption by us compared to wheat germ that has not undergone the sourdough fermentation process.

 

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All reasonable care is taken when advising about health aspects of bread, but the information that we share is not intended to take the place of treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. You must seek professional advice if you are in any doubt about any medical condition. Any application of the ideas and information contained on this website is at the reader's sole discretion and risk.

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