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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Understanding Wild yeast

Learning Objective

Learners will develop a comprehensive understanding of the unique characteristics of wild yeast and its interactions with lactic acid bacteria in sourdough fermentation, enabling them to make informed decisions in managing sourdough starters. They will also understand how these microbial dynamics influence flavour, structure, and digestibility in bread, as well as specific considerations for individuals with yeast sensitivities or digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease.

Learning Outcome

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

  1. Differentiate between wild yeast and commercial yeast, recognising the implications for flavour, fermentation speed, and nutritional qualities.
  2. Explain the symbiotic relationship between wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria in sourdough starters, including the microbial ratios, size differences, and roles each plays in fermentation.
  3. Identify how environmental factors such as temperature, hydration, and flour type impact yeast and bacterial activity, and adjust these factors to optimise sourdough fermentation.
  4. Discuss the impact of sourdough fermentation on nutrition and digestibility, especially for those with yeast sensitivities or specific digestive conditions like Crohn's disease.
  5. Analyse the role of acidity in pathogen inhibition and flavour development, understanding how it can affect gluten structure and the overall texture of sourdough bread.

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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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