It took me a long time to settle on the title for this post. I am willing to be so bold. When I began eating healthier, bread was definitely on my hit list. I realized that if I replaced a few slices of bread a day, I could make room for things like greens, fresh fruits, legumes, and that I would be getting more nutrients from the same amount of calories. Light bulb moment.
Oh no. The Danes are excellent bread makers, especially when it comes to sourdoughs and of course, rye. Bread here is hearty, filling, and a single slice is almost like a meal in itself. I love going to the bakery on Saturday morning and getting a loaf of rye that has naturally risen for days, been baked for 24 hours, and looks and feels like a brick. This way I appreciate bread on a whole other level and it becomes special. I savour every slice instead of making it every meal.
When I walked into her apartment I could smell it. Something malty and definitely baked, toasty, nuttyβ¦when I rounded the corner to her kitchen, there it was. A very beautiful loaf of bread, pretty as a picture, studded with sunflower seeds, chia and almonds, golden around the corners and begging me to slice into it. She served it with a number of spreads; pesto , lentil hummus , some veggie pate. It magically seemed to compliment everything I slathered across its speckled flesh.
Moist, dense, chewy. Hints of sea salt here and there, nestled between the oats, around the corner from a golden flax seed. So beautiful and more than tasty, this was a revelation. She smiled. Nice observation, and the answer is psyllium seed husks. Psyllium come from the plant Plantago ovata and is related to the common garden dweller Plantain not to be confused with the fruit! I just came back from running a detox course in Lisbon where I got all the participants in-the-know about this amazing little supplement that also helps to reduce cholesterol levels, aid digestion and weight loss, and alleviate diarrhea and constipation.
Psyllium seed husks contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber dissolves in water and soothes the digestive tract with its mucilaginous properties, while the insoluble fiber acts like a broom to sweep the colon free of toxins. But the good news is, you can take it anytime β many people find that a daily dose of a teaspoon or two in a glass of water really helps them get their bowels moving, or slow them down if necessary.
