Pita bread is simply flat bread with a pocket in the middle. This popular bread in many cultures is eaten with stews. The bread is used to scoop the beans or meat instead of a spoon. In the USA, pita bread is mostly used to make sandwiches as it can hold every other sandwich filling. It can either be served hot or cold. For a quick pizza, place cheese, sauce and other toppings on the bread and put it under a broiler until the cheese melts.
Is Pita Bread Healthy?
Well, most types are believed to be healthy. Whole wheat pita bread is one of the most wholesome pitas. The fact that pita bread has only about 2 grams of unhealthy fat per 100 grams makes it a healthy option. Besides, pita bread is rich in fiber, which is required for the digestive system to work properly. Apart from a good share of fiber, pita bread also contains minerals and vitamins like thiamine and riboflavin.
Furthermore, whole meal pita bread regulates your blood sugar level, improves your heart's condition and defends against diabetes. Soy protein pita bread lowers cholesterol levels and decreases the risk of heart attack. Pita bread also helps people lose weight as it makes you feel satisfied for a long time, which means you end up eating less.
How does It Benefit Your Health?
So, is pita bread healthy? Of course it is as it provides several beneficial nutrients and helps reduce the risk to many health problems.
1. It Contains Fewer Calories and Fat
Two pieces of bread used to make a typical sandwich have about 200 calories. Compared to it, a piece of white pita bread measuring 6-1/6 inches has 165 calories. You end up saving calories if you use it to make a sandwich since you only need one piece of pita bread. What’s more, pita bread has less than a gram of fat for every serving.
2. It Is Packed with Nutrients
Is pita bread healthy? Of course! More than 10% of the recommended daily intake of B vitamins, riboflavin, niacin, folate and thiamin can be gotten from a piece of white pita bread. It also contains 16.3 micrograms of selenium, which is more than 30% of the 45 micrograms recommended daily.
3. It Adds Proteins to Your Meals
Pita bread can also be a source of protein in your meal. A serving contains 5.5 grams of protein, which is 11% of the recommended daily intake. Protein is required for the growth and repair of body muscles as well as healthy nails, skin and hair.
4. It Has Abundant Mineral Contents
Whole grain pita bread has a whole lot of minerals. A whole meal pita bread contains 12% of the DV (daily value) for phosphorus, 40% of the DV for selenium, 11% of the DV for iron and 56% of the DV for manganese. Enriched pita provides 23% percent of the DV for selenium. Magnesium and phosphorus are important for strong bones. Selenium acts as antioxidant while iron helps with the formation of red blood cells that transport oxygen in the body.
Caution!
Is pita bread healthy? Yes it is. However, you need to consider a few things before you decide to include pita bread in your diet. Avoid pita bread if your diet does not include carbohydrates. Each serving of pita bread provides 33 grams of carbohydrates. Having pita bread is not a good idea for people who are cautious about their sodium intake. A serving contains 322 milligrams of sodium contributing 13% of the DV for sodium.
4 Ways to Eat Pita Bread
1. 
Sandwiches
Pita bread is mostly used to make sandwiches. Cut it in half, and insert the sandwich filling in the "pocket" or put the filling in between two pita breads and heat it with a sandwich press. The filling could be made of salami, smoked ham, lettuce and cheese topped with either mayonnaise or mustard or both.
2. 
Toasted Pita Bread
For toasted pita bread, open up the bread into two pieces or leave it whole. Butter the bread before toasting. Toasted pita bread can be eaten with tuna, cheese, yogurt, peanut butter or any other topping depending on what you like.
3. Pita Bread Croutons
Slice pita bread into small pieces, toast it and put it in your favorite salad. Deep fry your pita bread before adding it to your salad to prevent it from being soggy. To reduce the work, toast lots of pita and keep it in a bread basket or a plastic bag refrigerated or frozen. Pita bread croutons flavored with herbs also taste great. Spread some margarine, butter or olive oil on the bread before toasting. Sprinkle some thyme, basil or oregano before toasting for about 5 minutes at 350F, and then put it in your salad.
4. Mini Pizzas
Place fresh or canned tomatoes and a tablespoon of pizza sauce on a mini pita and sprinkle with cheese. For a better taste, add any other topping of your choice.