Is Pita Bread Healthy for Weight Loss?
Pita bread is a type of flatbread known and beloved worldwide but still most popular in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Pita bread is mainly used as a wrapper and is most famous as an integral part of souvlaki and falafel. Though it is pretty light and doesn’t make you sleepy afterward, pita bread is still moderately high in carbs, so is it healthy for weight loss?
Considering that pita bread is not that high in carbs, it is ok to have it on your weight loss journey if you’re losing weight by calorie deficiency. However, if you’re on a low-carb or a no-carb diet, as well as paleo or Atkins, pita bread is not for you.
Since pita bread is quite tasty and very versatile, it comes in handy to have on a weight loss journey, as you can create many satiating meals in just a few minutes. However, pita bread is still bread, and many find it unsuitable for losing weight. Pita bread isn’t all that bad for weight loss, but you need to know some things. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, I will discuss whether or not pita bread is good for weight loss and give you some tips and tricks on making it work.
Is Pita Bread Good for Weight Loss?
Whether pita bread is good for weight loss or not is not a simple yes/no question because it depends on the diet you’re practicing to lose weight and also on your physical engagement.
The answer to this question also depends on what you combine your pita bread with and how many pieces of pita bread you eat a day. Sometimes the food product itself doesn’t make that much of a difference as much as it matters what you combine it with and in which quantity you have it. When you want to lose weight, even the healthiest food won’t fit well if you overdo it.
Another factor is the timing. A pita bread wrap in the evening will do you more harm than if you have it in the afternoon. Start your day with a high-protein and high-fiber breakfast, have your pit bread around lunch and finish your day with a light and fresh salad.
If you’re trying to lose weight and are physically active, and don’t subject yourself to harsh food restrictions, then pita bread is for you. Pita bread is moderately high in calories, so if you are on a calorie deficit but still want to enjoy the occasional wrap, it’s perfectly ok to have pita bread.
If you intend to start practicing a specific diet, such as keto, paleo, or Atkins, then you should think twice before having a pita bread wrap. These diets call for zero carbs and a good amount of fat, so practicing a no-carb diet and suddenly cutting it with pita bread, even occasionally, can harm your success so far.
If you don’t like working out but want to lose weight, pita bread is excellent for a low-carb diet and a sedentary lifestyle. One piece of pita bread three or four times a week is still low carb, so you’ll be able to lose some weight and enjoy a delicious pita bread wrap.
I won’t elaborate on pita bread for weight loss if you have an already established strict workout regiment, as with that comes strict nutrition.
In summary, pita bread isn’t exactly what you’d call a weight loss-friendly food, but if you incorporate it into your lifestyle and diet well, it could help you lose weight. For example, pita bread-wrapped chicken breast and veggies will keep you full longer, so you won’t be reaching for the fridge that often. Moreover, if you have an active lifestyle, you will likely spend the extra carbs from the pita bread, and don’t worry about the occasional wrap if you are on a low-carb diet.
How to Serve Pita Bread for Losing Weight?
If you combine pita bread with a side dish, think about that since the sides can often be more fattening than the bread itself. So, to lose weight and enjoy the occasional pita bread, you should serve it with light sides.
Chicken breast or tuna are always good high-protein, low-fat choices. Chickpeas and chickpea-based foods such as falafel or veggie and chickpea balls are also great solutions to wrap your pita bread around.
Light spreads such as low-fat sour cream, crème Fraiche, or low-fat mayo can significantly enhance your pita bread and lubricate the filling.
Veggies, all types of veggies, can be served with pita bread, from tomatoes to lettuce, to cucumbers, to any vegetable imaginable. Olives, hummus, and pita bread go amazingly together.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you can combine your pita bread with honey and nuts, but make sure you add a dessert spice to the pita bread while making it. You can also combine it with green apples and melted dark chocolate.
Whatever you combine your pita bread, make sure it doesn’t contain artificial sugars, trans fats, and carbs.
Is Pita Bread Less Fattening Than Regular Bread?
Pita bread and regular bread have nearly identical nutritional values, meaning that pita bread isn’t less fattening than regular bread. Regular bread contains significantly more sodium than pita bread and marginally more dietary fiber, containing nearly the same amount of protein. [1] [2]
Which Bread Is Best for Weight Loss?
People who diet should avoid bread on a weight loss journey. Still, certain types of bread are very nutritious and healthy and will help your body through the weight loss process. You only need to be careful about how you combine them and when you have them.
We cannot single out one bread as the best, but there are a few types of bread that are excellent for weight loss. They are rich in nutrients and dietary fiber, which speeds up the metabolism and aids the weight loss process.
Whole wheat bread contains bran, germ, and endosperm and is made of wheat. [3] Unlike bread made with refined white flour, this bread is a healthy option for occasional sandwiches.
Whole grain bread is another extremely healthy option to lose weight. It helps the body by speeding up the metabolism and helping digestion. It contains fiber, minerals, and vitamins because it’s made with the kernels of the used grains.
Oat bread is also an excellent choice for weight loss because it is very satiating, and you probably won’t be able to have more than two pieces. It is rich in nutrients and helps promote gut health; it is energizing and very beneficial for your overall health.
Which Bread Is the Worst for Weight Loss?
White bread is the worst for weight loss. [4] It is made of refined white flour, contains lots of carbs and sugars, and doesn’t have much nutrition to offer. Moreover, it will fill you up but won’t nurture you, as you will feel hungry soon after you’ve eaten.
White bread gives you short-term energy, and you’ll feel drained and sleepy after the initial energy kick wears off. It isn’t a good option, even if you aren’t on a weight loss journey.
Can You Eat Pita Bread on a Low Carb Diet?
One regular piece of pita bread contains around 15 grams of carbs which is a perfect carb amount for a low-carb diet. On a low-carb diet, you can eat up to 80 grams of carbs, which, in theory, means about five pita bread. In practice, the chances of having five pita bread a day are very slim, so one pita bread combined with light low-carb or carbless sides and you’ll get an excellent meal that fits right into your low-carb food regimen.
Is Pita Bread Healthy for Diabetics?
Diabetes is a vicious metabolic disorder that requires giving up on many tasty delights, bread among them. However, since there is a certain amount of carbs allowed, pita bread falls under the OK bread category.
Homemade pita bread is an even better solution as you know what you put in your bread. Also, there are variations you can try, so you can use half wheat flour and half flaxseed flour (ground flaxseeds).
Pita bread is tasty, and it can satisfy carbs cravings. The best thing is that it contains a low carbs amount.
