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A Doctor Reveals The Surprising ‘Hidden’ Junk Food Ingredients That Are Hiding In ‘Healthy’ Bread: ‘Don’t Buy Them’

September 25, 2025 by Abigail Connolly

 
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Most people would agree that one of the foods that’s hardest to figure out while on a weight loss journey is bread, with some believing you should cut it out, while others think it’s a great food to keep in your diet for shedding pounds.

The consensus seems to be that you can and should certainly eat bread while trying to slim down, but it all depends on the kind of bread you buy. While many are aware that more processed, white breads aren’t good for you, there are also a lot of bread brands that market their products as “healthy,” even though they’re hiding ingredients that aren’t as great as you may think. Dr. Daniel Pompa, a health coach and viral content creator, recently made a video about the “hidden junk” found in breads that are often marketed as healthy, and why you may want to avoid them if you’re looking to focus on eating a cleaner diet. Read more about what he had to say below.

Dr. Daniel Pompa Reveals The 'Hidden Junk' Found In 'Healthy Breads'

Bread is a hot topic in the wellness and weight loss community, as it's high in carbs and many see it as a food that causes weight gain. Therefore, some people have tried to make it the 'enemy,' but that's far from the case! The carbs found in bread can be incredibly nourishing and energizing. However, what you eat with your bread and the kind of bread you buy can make a big difference in how your body reacts to it.

For instance, white, starchy, sliced sandwich bread often contains added sugar and is stripped of its extra fiber, which makes it better to digest, causing an energy crash later on. However, whole grain breads and bread products that haven't been stripped of these properties can be great, making you feel more full and satiated while also providing you with sustainable energy. However, some bread brands will try to trick you, selling you products that seem super healthy, but also contain some ingredients that you could probably do without.

In his Instagram reel, Dr. Pompa is at a health food store and picks out an "organic, whole wheat" bread and reveals that it's not the greatest option to choose.

"What's in this healthy bread?" he asks. "Well, it's not healthy."

Dr. Pompa begins reading off the added ingredients in the bread he picked out, noting that it includes cane sugar as the second and higher ingredient aside from flour, as well as "a bunch of bad fats," sunflower oil, and more, which he says makes it "not so healthy."

He also picks up an "artisanal" organic bread, which he notes has similar added ingredients.

"Don't buy them," he adds.

What Kind Of Bread Should You Look For?

At the start and end of his video, Dr. Pompa suggests eating sourdough bread, which is often made with simple ingredients and contains prebiotics and probiotics from its fermentation process. Whole wheat sourdough is an excellent option as well.

Additionally, the health coach encourages his viewers to look for breads that are made with only "three ingredients," as he believes that's all they should contain. Bread typically includes the base of flour, water, and salt, as well as some sort of leavening agent like yeast. Other than that, lots of added oils and sugar can make them a bit less beneficial.

At the end of the day, bread is still a food you can easily keep in your diet while trying to lose weight and stay healthy, and if you eat some kind of bread product with a long ingredient list every once in a while, it's not going to hurt you.

However, if you want to incorporate more wholesome, cleaner foods into your diet for improved health, stick to Dr. Pompa's tips, and be sure to read your nutrition labels.

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