Hi All - as a nutritional therapist and yoga teacher I am of course interested in choices that help to thrive and help me heal. I myself love sourdough bread and to think of bidding farewell to it upsets me! Over the years my observation is that we need to believe in what we are eating and that it does truly nurture and energise our bodies and minds for it to serve us. If we eat something and then proceed to feel terribly guilt and upset at our perceived lack of willpower - that is aggravating to the nervous system and is more likely to keep you in a state of stress. For health, keeping regularly to the lower carb end seems optimal for many reasons, not least because it is better for insulin secretions, the blood sugar balancing hormone. The western diet is VERY carb heavy and is a huge driver of the obesity epidemic. Consider if one slice of sourdough is around 50 grams of carbs and a lower end carb intake for the day would be around 75 grams, if you are having for example two slices of bread daily alongside portions of white potatoes, pasta and cereal - you can imagine how this tips the body into excess fatty tissue from way too many carbs.
Aim to get fibre content in with the carb intake - so here's where what's called 'resistant starches' come in handy as they are fibre rich and nurture the gut biome (your amazing inner ecosystem) - things like cold potato (boiled and left to cool), uncooked oats, plantain, green bananas and various legumes such as navy and cannelini beans (soak overnight any legumes before cooking). You don't need to go crazy on these - around 10 grams a day or even less will bring benefit. resistant starches are important as they are undigested meaning the body needs to expend more energy on their digestion. With 'fast carbs' like croissants, supermarket bread and white rice, these are all super fast to digest and the body is not working for them. Too easy!
Other sources of fibre include whole fruits, nuts and seeds and some wholegrain but do limit wholegrain as they are going to affect your blood sugar. Tune into what works for you.
Have a little tally up now for yourself to consider how much 'fast carbs' you are currently consuming. Where can you make some quick wins and reduce - for example instead of supermarket bread for breakfast - source an organic sourdough and just have one slice with something like half an avocado or nut butter so you have added protein and good fats for satiety.