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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Rye Bread Improves Bowel Function and Decreases the Concentrations of Some Compounds That Are Putative Colon Cancer Risk Markers in Middle-Aged Women and Men

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Isabelle MaRye Bread Improves Bowel Function and Decreases the Concentrations of Some Compounds That Are Putative Colon Cancer Risk Markers in Middle-Aged Women and MenSoile M. Grasten, Katri S. Juntunen, Kaisa S. Poutanen, Helena K. Gylling, Tatu A. Miettinen, Hannu M. Mykkanen5 February 2012https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uomw8ymr840eg8y/AACvjld0lkiu0rU6MD0JnYkca/Bowel%20Cancer?dl=0&preview=309.+Rye+Bread+Improves+Bowel+Function+and+Decreases+the+Concentrations+of+Some+Compounds+That+Are+Putative+Colon+Cancer+Risk+Markers+in+Middle-Aged+Women+and+Men.pdf&subfolder_nav_tracking=12 Fibre & or is relevant to The Gut MicrobiomeRyeImpact on Bowel Cancerhttps://nordicfoodliving.com/danish-rye-bread-rugbrod/https://nordicfoodliving.com/danish-rye-bread-rugbrod/

Scenario: discussing this research to a baker in Hong Kong.

It is accepted that a diet rich in fibre may be associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is the third most common cancer worldwide. Traditionally, CRC has been thought to be less common in Asia compared to Western countries. However, the incidence rates of CRC in Asia are high, and there is an increasing trend in the Asian population due to the increasing adoption of a Western lifestyle and dietary habits by, in particular, the younger generation in Hong Kong.

As bakers, we need to try and introduce more fibre into our customer’s diet, in particular, Rye flour. This is because rye bread (preferably made from stoneground rye or even better rye berries milled by yourself, which would have the most enzyme activity) improves bowel function by increasing fecal weight and fecal frequency and by shortening intestinal transit time. This would reduce the contact time between the colonocytes which are located inside both our large and small intestines and the potential carcinogens and tumour promoters contained within the foods we ingest. 

Furthermore, and this is very persuasive is the fact that the metabolism of rye produces short chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, which the colonocytes love to eat. Rye bread compared to wheat bread produced more butyrate. Happier colonocytes have been linked to a potential reduction in the risk of colon cancer. 

If we, as bakers, can persuade our consumers to adopt Rye bread as a breakfast staple over wheat bread, or even better, over the sweetened white breads that many Hong Kongers eat, then we are taking a step in the right direction with tackling the increasing trend of colon cancer amongst Asians. 

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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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