Why can white bread contain FEWER calories than brown – and what does it REALLY mean for your health?
In many cases wholemeal varieties are more dense than their fluffy white alternatives, meaning they have fewer air bubbles and more calories
It's a choice that likely comes down to your taste buds.
To have a slice of white or brown bread - that is the burning breakfast question we've all faced.
But, if you're one of the health conscious among us, chances are taste is not the only factor in your bread-based dilemmas.
You'll stand at the bakery section poised to go with your head, which is telling you brown is better for your health, only to be distracted by a loaf of white promising fewer calories per slice.
A video compiled by AsapScience reveals 200g of white bread contains fewer calories than the same measurement of brown bread.
But, why is this the case and what does this really mean?
Calories are a measure of the amount of energy in food and drink, and are used by the body to create energy needed to sustain daily functions of life.
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As an average guide, the NHS states the average man needs 2,500 calories a day to maintain his weight, while the average woman requires fewer, around 2,000 calories.
But, when it comes to losing weight, calories are not the be all and end all.
In some cases wholemeal, brown and granary loaves are more dense than their white, fluffy alternatives.
As a result there are fewer air bubbles and so more calories.
Furthermore, the grains used to make wholemeal bread can contain higher levels of unsaturated fat, and so may have a higher calorie count.
Some white breads do provide less calories than wholemeal varieties but white bread has a higher GI than wholemeal bread, and consumption of high GI foods is associated with a quick rise in blood glucose (sugar) - not good for sustained energy and feelings of fullness
Helen Bond, state registered dietitian
But, two leading experts told The Sun Online, this does not mean we should all be reaching for the white bread, smug smiles on our faces.
Dr Marilyn Glenville, a nutritionist and the author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar, said wholemeal varieties come with added nutritional benefits.
"Wholemeal bread contains four times as much fibre, more than three times as much zinc and almost twice as much iron as white bread," she revealed.
Helen Bond, a state registered dietitian echoed that point.
She told The Sun Online the latest Diet and Nutrition Survey published this month shows that as a nation we are all falling short of eating the newly recommended 30g of fibre a day.
"Wholemeal bread provides a valuable source of gut healthy fibre, along with B vitamins needed for healthy energy release," she added.
And the health benefits do not end with fibre.
Wholemeal, brown and other breads made from wholegrains are considered to be low GI foods.
This means they are low on the glycaemic index - a rating system for foods containing carbohydrates.
It shows how quickly each food affects a person's blood sugar levels when it is eaten on its own.
Low or medium GI foods, such as wholegrains, are broken down more slowly than those that are high on the GI index, white bread for example.
As a result low GI foods cause a gradual rise in blood sugar levels over time, rather than the sharp spike that is seen with white, refined carbs.
Ms Bond said: "Some white breads do provide less calories than wholemeal varieties but white bread has a higher GI than wholemeal bread, and consumption of high GI foods is associated with a quick rise in blood glucose (sugar) - not good for sustained energy and feelings of fullness."
Dr Glenville added: "The carbohydrates in wholemeal bread are broken down slowly over several hours, like the coals in a fire, and so do not give any sudden flooding of sugars into the bloodstream.
"Also this gradual release helps you to feel full for longer, suppressing your appetite and stopping you craving sweet foods because you're not on the blood sugar rollercoaster."
As a result of its low GI rating, wholemeal and brown bread is linked to a lower risk of various chronic illnesses.
Ms Bond said: "Consumption of wholegrain foods, such as wholemeal bread, is associated with reduced rates of heart disease, some cancers, type II diabetes and such foods may play a role in weight maintenance."