Bread is undeniably one of the most convenient foods we have in today's time. And there is no denying the fact that it can add a whole variety to your plate, with garlic bread, cheese toasties, vegetable sandwich, plain butter toast or bun maska.

But a lot of us have been unsettled ever since Center for Science and Environment (CSE) released its study that says most breads made by Indian companies are laced with chemicals such as potassium bromated or iodate that damage human health, warning people that it leads to cancer.  Dr. Saurabh Arora, founder of Food Safety Helpline and head of Auriga Research Limited laboratories clears the air, "Bromate was so far considered a permitted ingredient in preparation of breads but its use was recently banned in water, which is something that needs to be considered. Having said that, we tested bread samples and it has been found that the quantity of Bromate in bread is under permissible limits. And one needs to consume half a kilogram of bread to ingest it in dangerous levels, thereby making it absolutely safe for consumption." He adds that there is a dire need to conduct more studies and scientific research to find out more about the chemical.

There is some nutritional value in breads that cannot be ignored. Dr. Suvarna Pathak - Dietitian Coordinator - Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai says, "Breads have one positive quality and that is the yeast, which gives vitamin B12 and also some probiotics. Hence, occasional indulgence is fine." It is always advised to have bread with lots of vegetables so that the fiber helps in digestion and slows the release of sugar.

Dr Rashi Chahal, chief dietician, Paras Hospital warns, "Bread can be an unhealthy option if you don't use multi-grain bread, that too from a bakery you trust (or if you are baking it yourself). One has to be sure of the ingredients that are going into it." "Oats, ragi and rye breads are some of the healthy bread options." White breads are made of refined flour and rest is colour. It raises blood sugar and can lead to obesity.

What are the healthy bread toppings ?

A lot of people end up making their bread unhealthy and high-calorie, bringing down its nutritional value. Cheese spread, butter or jam simply makes it more fattening. So along with selecting the healthier bread option, it is also extremely important to top it with non-fattening. Try having your bread with homemade hung curd dressing, toasted bread with honey and black pepper or avocado spread with olive, jalapenos to make the most of it.