Healthy and Delicious Baguette: Enhancing Nutrition with Nuts, Seeds, Olive Oil, Herbs and Salt

When creating a healthy and delicious baguette, it’s important to consider the ingredients you use. Adding a variety of nuts and seeds can provide numerous health benefits. Flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, poppy seeds, and pumpkin seeds are all great choices that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health and cognitive function. Pumpkin seeds are also high in magnesium while poppy seeds are rich in calcium. These seeds provide dietary fiber that aids digestion and enhances taste and texture of the baguette.

Incorporating quality olive oil into the dough can also be beneficial. Extra virgin olive oil contains oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid that helps lower LDL cholesterol levels and increase HDL cholesterol levels. It also helps regulate the activity of the endothelium, which lines blood vessels and heart chambers. Avoid using saturated fats like butter as they can lead to the formation of fatty plaque in blood vessels over time.

Adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil or garlic to the dough can not only enhance flavor but also provide immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties that promote health. However, salt is necessary for flavor but should be used in moderation as too much salt can lead to health issues like hypertension so be mindful of how much you add to the dough. A measured amount of salt will enhance taste while helping regulate fermentation process

Shir Alfie Zager, Senior Clinical Dietitian at General Hospital recommends these ingredients for a healthier and tastier baguette by incorporating nuts and seeds, quality olive oil , herbs ,and salt in moderation you can create a delicious bread that is good for both your taste buds and your health