WHY I LOVE IT
Hannam & Co. bread loaves and shells are not made with flour. They contain no grains, and hence no gluten or any other binding agent, which makes then a perfect alternative for someone like myself who is suffering from Celiac Disease. They offer a great alternative bread option for people who can’t or don’t eat regular bread containing gluten. However, they are so good anyone will enjoy them - regardless if you have any specific dietary needs or not.
THE BENEFITS OF BUCKWHEAT
Despite its deceiving name, buckwheat is neither wheat nor grain - it’s a seed. To make things more confusing, it’s classified as a pseudo-cereal and often referred to as a grain. But buckwheat is more similar to amaranth, millet, or quinoa, which are tasty and nutritious seeds that are full of fiber and are gluten-free but get clumped into the grain department.
Buckwheat is packed with nutrients and minerals, such as iron, copper, and magnesium, and it has plenty of fiber. It contains good carbs, protein, fiber, and an array of vitamins and minerals including potassium and magnesium, thereby making it good for heart health.
Packed with Vitamins and Minerals
The most abundant minerals in common buckwheat are:
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Manganese: Found in high amounts in whole grains, manganese is essential for healthy metabolism, growth, development, and your body’s antioxidant defenses.
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Copper: Often lacking in the Western diet, copper is an essential trace element that may benefit heart health when eaten in small amounts.
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Magnesium: When present in sufficient amounts in your diet, this essential mineral may lower your risk of various chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
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Iron: Deficiency in this important mineral leads to anemia, a condition characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of your blood.
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Phosphorus:. This mineral plays an essential role in the growth and maintenance of body tissues.
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B vitamins: They are important for making sure the body's cells are functioning properly. They help the body convert food into energy (metabolism), create new blood cells, and maintain healthy skin cells, brain cells, and other body tissues.
Support Locally
Hannam & Co. Bakery is a locally owned company in Cape Town with a beautiful backstory and incredible owners. I feel so proud and privileged to be involved with such an amazing company.
Better Digestion
Compared to other grains, the minerals in cooked buckwheat groats are particularly well absorbed. This is because buckwheat is relatively low in phytic acid, a common inhibitor of mineral absorption found in grains and seeds.
Food Option for Celiac Disease
While the name "buckwheat" might make people with gluten intolerance shy away, the food is not actually a wheat — or even a grain. Rather, it's a seed. This makes buckwheat a wonderful option for people with celiac disease or anybody else committed to eating a gluten-free diet. Far more than a simple alternative, buckwheat offers far more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than the rice products that are often used in gluten-free recipes.
Beneficial for Blood Sugar Management
Buckwheat supplies fibre, and benefits from a low-to-medium glycemic index. This means it has a moderate effect on blood sugar levels and may even lower blood sugar levels. Studies suggest this effect may be thanks to soluble carbohydrate in buckwheat that makes cells more responsive to the hormone insulin and may delay the digestion of sugar.
Stable Shelf Life
Being preservative-free, it must be kept refrigerated or frozen. The fridge “best by” date is two weeks, and six months in the freezer. The breads are quite robust in that they can be frozen and defrosted then frozen again, but they are very temperature sensitive – if kept at room temperature or in a fridge that is not working at >4C, they will spoil.
Source of Fibre
Buckwheat is rich in fibre, especially insoluble fibre and a type known as resistant starch, both of which are of particular benefit to gut health. This is because the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut use these fibres as a source of fuel, helping them increase in number and simultaneously produce by-products that are valuable for gut health.
Rich in Carbohydrates
Buckwheat mainly consists of carbs, which make up about 20% of boiled groats by weight. They come in the form of starch, which is carbs’ primary storage form in plants. Carbohydrates have been proven to be the main fuel source during endurance exercise, especially when competing at a high-intensity and performance is the main goal.
Gluten-Free Bread that Taste Great!
It is so nice to find gluten free products that are made of simple ingredients. most gluten free products you will find on the selves these days have a long list of ingredients (sometimes ones you can't even recognize or don't even know how to correctly pronounce). Hannam & Co. Bakery offers products that are not made with flour. Or yeast. They contain no grains, and hence no gluten*...or any other binding agent, for that matter. No xanthan gum, no tapioca flour, no potato starch, or eggs, or milk. They certainly have no sugar added and in fact, in the case of the Flatwhite and Superseed varieties, contain no measurable sugars at all.
Yes they still taste great and is a great alternative for someone who can't have regular bread, but also for anyone who just want a healthy unrefined alternative option to regular bread.