Wasa Multi Grain Crispbread

So I've been convinced for a while of the negative health effects of grain. It has been said and shown the effect of most grain is identical to sugar in the body; upon ingestion insulin levels spike in order to control the high blood sugar. Also, as much as 90% of humans might be allergic to wheat to some degree, and symptoms are often wrongly attributed to other causes. But grains are something few can live without, and most don't wish to. Many people across the globe have been enjoying what I would consider an excellent compromise between having your grains and being healthy, too: crispbread.

Crispbread is largely a product of northern Europe. Swedes eat the most in the world, followed closely by Danes and Norwegians. While it has spread all over the world, these areas remain the heartland for crispbread. Wasa, a Swedish company, is the largest producer in the world. They make excellent products in a great variety.

Crispbread is simply what it sounds like -- thin pieces of crispy bread. Most people might be more comfortable calling them crackers, as opposed to bread. But the ingredients are undeniably that of bread: whole grain rye flour, whole grain wheat flour, whole grain oat flour, whole grain barley flour, yeast, water and salt, depending on the variety, and Wasa makes enough varieties to keep everyone happy.

The compromise is ideal because the amount of grain is significantly reduced by substituting crispbread for regular bread. In one of the larger varieties Wasa offers, multi grain, one slice is 14g with 2g being fiber and another 2g protein. Contrast that to a regular slice of bread somewhere in the neighborhood of 50g. Bread is made of mostly carbohydrates, and carbohydrates are not stored for long in the body but are quickly turned into fat. So crispbread is superb especially for those looking to lose weight. Also, most is made in European Union counties, and since the EU does not allow genetically modified produce the grain used in Wasa, produced in Sweden and Germany, is non-GMO.

In Scandinavian countries open-faced sandwiches are eaten much more than two-sided sandwiches. This reduces the amount of grain even more. Wasa has a large recipe section for great topping ideas but my favorite thing to do is top the crispbread with pesto and tomato slices. Goat cheese and cucumbers come in a close second.

[Wasa crispbread at the Wasa website]