Guide Note

Rye Bread is made primarily with flour from rye grain, though wheat flour may be added to achieve a denser texture. In North America, rye bread nearly always has caraway seeds or fennel added to the crust, though this is not a requirement.

Fast Facts

1. Pumpernickel bread: Rye bread made from whole rye grains instead of flour
2. Can be made with partially old dough, called the "sourdough method"
3. Rye bread originated in Germany
4. 500 AD: Danes and Saxons introduce rye to England
5. Jewish rye is made with a mixture of rye and wheat flour

Rye Bread is a good source of whole grains, and is high in dietary fiber and manganese. One sandwich made with rye bread can provide over one-third of the recommended daily amount of fiber, nearly as much as a sandwich made with whole wheat bread.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, wheat bread induces a relatively high insulin response, and thus rye bread may be a healthier choice for diabetes sufferers.

Some studies have even shown that whole grains, of which rye is a source, may provide as many cancer-fighting nutrients as similar servings of fruits and vegetables.