The Best Gluten Free Bread in NZ

When your gut is not top of the pops, one of the easiest things you can do, is look to minimise gluten in your diet.

Why?

Because gluten is one of the most difficult molecules for your gut to digest, and it can also affect the tight junctions in your gut lining, making your gut more susceptible to intestinal permeability. The less your gut has to deal with this molecule, the more capacity your gut has to heal itself. So during this gut health program, we minimise gluten to help speed your healing.

What foods contain gluten?

Gluten is found in wheat, oats, barley and rye, of which wheat is the predominant food group in our diet. and the one to be aware of.

So we need to find substitutes for breads, crackers, cakes, biscuits, pasta and any other foods that contain wheat flour on the label.

Gluten Free Breads

This is the key item to substitute. Most of us have bread once or twice per day, so if we change our rituals to simply start buying gluten free bread, we probably reduce 60-80% of our gluten consumption. One change - 80% improvement - that’s the sort of statistics I’m after!

Even better, in recent years the availability of yummy gluten free breads has increased significantly, and so it is simply about putting a different brands in your supermarket trolley each week.

Gluten Free Bread Hacks

Let go of the idea that gluten free breads are going to taste like freshly baked ciabatta. They can’t, because the flours they use are more nutrient dense and therefore not so light and fluffy. Start seeing bread as the carrier for the tasty part of the meal - the amazing guacamole, or perfectly ripe tomato, or garlicky hummus.

Toast it always - gluten free breads taste heaps better when toasted. So if you want a sandwich with gluten free bread, lightly toast the bread and you’ll be very pleased with the result.

Here are my top picks!

The Midnight Baker Freedom Loaf

Made with buckwheat or oats. Full of protein and tastes amazing! Purchased from The Midnight Baker or Farro Fresh Supermarkets.

Venerdi Organic Sourdough Six Seed

This is my go to everyday bread. Light and tasty when toasted, it’s the perfect substitute for normal bread and you can find it at all supermarkets.

Venerdi Black Rice and Polenta Sourdough

Another amazing variation from Venerdi. Light and tasty and readily available.

Paleo Almond and Linseed

This bread is seriously filling and packs a hefty nutritional punch. It contains no grains, so suits some digestive systems a lot.