A Review of Organic and Non-GMO Sprouted Grain Manna Bread
Slices of manna bread
Linda Crampton
What Is Manna Bread?
Manna bread is a delicious unleavened product made from sprouted grains. The bread may be produced from whole grains and water alone or may have added fruit, nuts, seeds, and in the case of one variety, carrots. It contains no yeast, added sugar, salt, oil, or preservatives, is cholesterol free (like all plant foods), and is suitable for vegans. The sprouting process and the simple recipe produce a dense, nutritious, and tasty product.
Some people make their own manna bread at home. Others find it more convenient to purchase the bread in a store. The version that I buy and that I'll review in this article is produced by the Manna Organics company in Illinois. Their bread is certified organic, kosher certified, and made from non-GMO ingredients. It comes in nine varieties, ranging from plain grain breads to loaves that contain fruit, nuts, or seeds in addition to grains.
The bread was created by the Nature's Path company in British Columbia, Canada, where I live. In 2007, the manna bread division of the company was purchased by Manna Organics LLC, which is based in Lisle, Illinois in the United States. (This is not the same company as Manna Organics Inc., which is based in Newark, New Jersey.)
Fruit and nut manna bread
Linda Crampton
Manna Bread Production and Origin
The basic steps in making manna bread are to sprout the grains, blend them with water in a food processor to make a dough, put the dough in a pan, and bake it. Some people who make their own manna bread like to eat "raw" food and place the dough in a dehydrator. They leave the dough at a low temperature for a long time to turn it into a solid bread. The Manna Organics website says that their sprouted grain breads are "slowly baked at a temperature much lower than conventional bread". They don't offer any more details about their sprouting and baking processes because their preparation method is proprietary.
According to the Bible, manna was food provided by God to feed the Israelites as they travelled through the desert. It resembled flakes or seeds. Numbers 11:8 says that the people ground or beat the manna and made a cake from it. Today manna bread is sometimes called Essene bread. The Essenes were an ancient religious sect that existed at the time of Jesus and were concerned about what they saw as evil in society.
Manna bread contains simple ingredients. Since the bread is minimally processed, many of the nutrients in the ingredients are retained. The loaves in my photos have French on their labels because Canada is officially a bilingual country.
Four kinds of Manna Organics manna bread
Linda Crampton
Whole Grain Bread That Is Rich in Nutrients
The Manna Organics version of manna bread contains whole grains and is high in insoluble fiber. This type of fiber provides bulk to the stool and helps it move through the large intestine. It may also reduce the risk of some diseases. Whole grain bread is far healthier than white bread, which has had the bran removed. The bran is the outer layer of a grain kernel and contains insoluble fiber.
Manna bread also contains soluble fiber, which can reduce the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood. This type of cholesterol is often referred to as the "bad" cholesterol. The chemical is a normal part of our body, but it can be harmful for blood vessels when it's present in an excessive amount. The substance can cause the buildup of a material called plaque in the vessels.
The various varieties of the bread are high in protein. They are very low to moderately low in fat. The nut and seed versions contain a little more fat than the plain grain versions. The whole grains in the breads provide useful vitamins and minerals. The fruits, nuts, and seeds that are added to some varieties of the bread supply more vitamins and minerals.
The flax and hemp seeds in the bread contain omega-3 fatty acids as well as other beneficial nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation, lower the risk of heart disease, and reduce the triglyceride level in the blood.
Manna bread contains a moderate amount of natural sugar. The fruit and nut version contains a lot of natural sugar, however. A buyer might want to save this version for a special treat.
Sunseed manna bread is my favorite kind.
Linda Crampton
Possible Benefits of Sprouted Grains
The sprouting process causes complex carbohydrates to change into simple sugars, such as maltose, which gives manna bread its sweetness. I don't find this sweetness overpowering, though. The bread varieties without fruit taste mildly sweet to me, while the varieties that contain fruit are sweeter.
Proponents of sprouted grains claim that eating a grain in sprouted form provides several health benefits compared to eating it in an unsprouted form. They say that the sprouting process increases the vitamin levels in the grain. They also say that phytic acid is broken down during sprouting. Phytic acid binds with minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc, making it harder for our small intestine to absorb them. When phytic acid is destroyed, more minerals are available. It's also said that sprouting makes grains easier to digest.
Sprouted grains do seem to be capable of providing the claimed nutritional benefits, but some scientists wonder whether the benefits are large enough to be significant. The article referred to in the first reference below states that the conditions used during sprouting are vital factors with respect to usability of the grain and its nutrient content. Researchers say that sprouted grain breads are good for us even if sprouting the grains doesn't significantly increase their health benefits, however. The breads are made from whole grains, are minimally processed, and tend to include healthy ingredients and omit less healthy ones.
Non-GMO Grains
The Manna Organics website says that all the ingredients in their products are GMO-free. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. It's a classification used to refer to a plant, animal, or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered by humans, generally in an attempt to improve a useful property or behavior of the organism.
Some people are very concerned about the consequences of changing an organism's genetic material, or genome, especially when it's done in a plant or animal that is eaten by humans. The behavior of genes in a living creature is very complex and isn't completely understood by scientists. It's possible that altering a genome may have unexpected and detrimental consequences. On the other hand, it may have wonderful benefits.
Cinnamon is a delicious addition to sprouted grain bread.
Linda Crampton
All of the ingredients in the bread listed below are organic. The main ingredients are sprouted; the others aren't. When this article was last updated, nine varieties of the bread were available, as listed below.
Varieties of Manna Organics LLC Manna Bread
| Variety | Ingredients |
|---|---|
Rye | Sprouted rye kernels, filtered water |
Millet Rice | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, millet, brown rice |
Multigrain | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, brown rice, barley, millet, flax seeds, rye kernels, soybeans, rolled oats, oat bran, cormeal |
Sunseed | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, millet, poppy seeds, caraway seeds |
Carrot Raisin | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, carrots, raisins |
Fruit and Nut | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, raisins, raisins, dates, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, oatmeal |
Banana Walnut Hemp | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, dried banana, walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds |
Fig, Fennel and Flax | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, diced figs with oat flour, flax seeds, fennel seeds, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds |
Cinnamon Date | Sprouted wheat kernels, filtered water, dates, cinnamon, oatmeal |
Sunseed manna bread contains caraway seeds.
Linda Crampton
Sprouted Grains and Celiac Disease
Gluten is a protein complex that is present in certain grains. It's very important to note that although there are chemical changes in a grain when it sprouts, sprouted wheat, rye, and barley still contain gluten. Oats may sometimes contain gluten as well. Check with your doctor if you have celiac disease and want to eat oats.
People with celiac disease mustn't eat any version of manna bread. In this disease, the tiny projections on the lining of the small intestine, which are called villi, are damaged and destroyed due to the presence of gluten. This greatly reduces the absorption of nutrients. Celiac disease can produce a long list of very unpleasant symptoms. In addition, it can sometimes cause serious complications.
People with celiac disease must completely avoid gluten in their diet. They also need to ensure that anything that enters their mouth—such as toothpaste—is gluten-free. Even a small amount of the substance can trigger damage to the villi.
If you can't tolerate wheat but can eat other gluten-containing grains such as barley and rye, and if you have also tested negative for celiac disease, you might want to try sprouted grain wheat products. Some people who develop problems when eating wheat find that sprouted wheat suits their body better than wheat that hasn't been sprouted.
Some people may choose to eat manna bread because they're yeast intolerant. Others may want to avoid the high sodium content in many other breads or they may wish to avoid added sugar or preservatives. Manna bread is not gluten-free, however.
Dense and Moist Bread
There may be some disadvantages to buying manna bread, even for people without celiac disease. The bread is not the best type for making sandwiches, for example. It's a dense and moist product that doesn't have the soft, spongy texture of flour bread. For me, this isn't a disadvantage, however. I treat manna bread like a healthy version of cake, even though it doesn't have the texture of a cake. A slice of manna bread with a nut butter spread on it is delicious as a snack or as a meal accompaniment. I buy a different type of bread for making sandwiches.
Manna bread could be used to make sandwiches if a person is determined to do this. One problem with this idea is that the bread is sold in small loaves, each of which is quite expensive compared to many regular brands of sandwich bread. In my area, the varieties without fruit cost around $4.20 Canadian while the varieties with fruit cost about $4.70. The healthier flour breads and the sprouted grain breads with yeast cost the same amount or even more than the manna bread, but they are sold in bigger packages that last longer. Using manna bread to make daily sandwiches in a family with several people could get very expensive!
Another problem with using manna bread to make sandwiches is that the slices made from a loaf are smaller in area than the slices produced from a loaf of sandwich bread, unless the manna bread is sliced lengthwise.
Eating manna bread can be a great way to include oatmeal in the diet.
No Preservatives
Manna Organics brand manna bread is sold frozen (at least in my area). After it's been defrosted, it needs to be kept in the refrigerator and eaten within a few days, since it doesn't contain preservatives. I happily accept this "disadvantage", however, because I like to avoid preservatives in my food. To me, having no preservatives is an advantage, not a disadvantage.
Another Potential Problem: Plastic Packaging
All of the brands of manna bread that I've seen in stores, included the brand that I buy, are wrapped in a plastic bag. In fact, each Manna Organics loaf is packed in two plastic bags—an outer one and an inner one. This is okay if the purchaser conscientiously recycles all their plastic and if their recycling depot accepts bread bags, but not if these requirements aren't met. Plastic garbage is a serious environmental problem, especially for animal life. Most plastic takes many years to fully degrade and often releases potentially harmful microplastic particles.
When I last checked the Manna Organics website, a message said that the company is "transitioning into new packaging" for the bread. They have also started calling the bread "Mighty Manna". I'm looking forward to seeing the new version of the breads. The notice about changing the packaging has been on the website for a long time, however.
A hazelnut that is starting to ripen: hazelnuts are found in fruit and nut manna bread
Linda Crampton
Nut, Soy, and Corn Allergies
People who are allergic to soybeans must avoid the multigrain version of Manna Organics manna bread, since the beans are one of the ingredients. The multigrain manna bread also contains corn, which causes an allergic reaction in some people. If you have a nut or seed allergy, or if you wish to avoid certain seeds, several varieties of the bread will have to be avoided. Luckily, there are nut and seed-free versions of the bread, as the table above shows.
Your Favorite Manna Bread
Where to Buy Manna Organics LLC Manna Bread
Manna Organics LLC manna bread is sold throughout North America as a frozen product. It's generally sold in health food stores, although I have occasionally found it in a supermarket near my home in British Columbia. The company's website says that the bread is sold in "most" Whole Foods markets. I've seen it in these markets in my area. The bread can also be bought from the online store on the Manna Organics website, but since it needs to be transported in a frozen form the store only sells it to United States addresses.
The nutritional information for each variety of bread is printed on the outer bag. Some people like to know this information in advance. The "Manna Organic Bakery" website provides the details. To find them, you need to click on the "Organic Breads" link on the home page and then click on the variety of the bread that interests you. A link to the nutritional content is provided under the name of the bread.
Banana walnut hemp is another variety of manna bread. Hemp seeds are a nutritious food.
Linda Crampton
Manna Bread in My Diet
I have purchased Manna Organics manna bread ever since it was produced by Nature's Path. I don't have the bread in my refrigerator or freezer all the time, but I buy it quite often. The nine varieties give me lots of different flavors to choose from. I choose the plainer kinds most often and save the sweeter ones for an occasional purchase. I like incorporating the bread into my diet for both its nutritional benefits and its taste.
References
- Impact of sprouting on nutrient levels in grains from the Wiley Online Library
- Information about the benefits of dietary fiber from the Mayo Clinic
- LDL and HDL cholesterol facts from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Facts about omega-3 fatty acids from WebMD
- Reduction of phytic acid in wheat during germination from PubMed, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Celiac disease information from the Celiac Disease Foundation
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
Questions & Answers
Question: How many carbs in a slice of Manna Bread? Is this considered a good form of protein? How does it affect blood sugar?
Answer: If you go to the manna organic bakery website and click on the variety of bread that interests you, you'll find a link to the nutrient content. This will enable you to discover the carbohydrate and protein level. If you have other questions, such as the effect on blood sugar, the website has a "Contact" link that enables you to email a question to the company.
Question: Where is grain manna bread sold in the Cincinnati area?
Answer: If you do an Internet search for manna organic bakery you should find the company's website. The site has a Store Locator link on its home page. This link enables people to enter their location and then find out where the company's products are sold in that area. The home page also has a Contact link. I live nowhere near Cincinnati and don't know where manna bread is sold in the area, but I think the website may be very helpful for you.
© 2012 Linda Crampton
