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Bread, Beer, and Coffee Are Healthier Than You Know
What if the secret to health wasn’t in the medicine cabinet but at the bar and the bakery?
To be healthy, people are led to believe, they must consume a Spartan diet, drink health elixirs that look like witches’ potions, and exercise with the intensity of an Olympic athlete.
But what if there’s an easier way to be healthy? And it’s as simple as embracing some of the things you already enjoy doing in a more mindful and moderate manner?
For the past five years we’ve been studying the potential health effects of many so-called “vices,” including beer, bread, and coffee, for our book The Good Vices. By poring over the existing medical literature and drawing on our combined 50 years of experience in medicine and health journalism, we’ve found that in many cases these foods can not only be part of a healthy lifestyle, but when consumed in moderation, they can help power a healthier way of being.
The Case for Bread
It’s true that bread, made from gluten (what is today considered the most unholy of holies), is unhealthy for people with celiac disease or other wheat sensitivity. But for the vast majority of people, whole grain breads are a healthy food. Whole-grain bread is filling and…
