La Jolla, CA-based Julian Bakery makes the best low-carb bread I’ve tasted
Of all the foods people reluctantly give up when they start livin’ la vida low-carb in earnest, I would say bread tops the list as the one they miss the most. People have e-mailed me time and time again over the years to help them find a great-tasting low-carb bread that is packed with nutritious and healthy ingredients. To be honest, most low-carb breads leave a lot to be desired. But I found one in recent months that is not only very nutritious, but it is absolutely mouthwatering delicious. It’s the SmartCarb High-Protein Bread from Julian Bakery.
As you can see, this low-carb bread is beautifully baked and is made with the freshest organic ingredients on a daily basis. Nutritionist Barbara Squier, owner and operator of Julian Bakery, doesn’t cut corners on quality which means you receive only the absolute best low-carb bread on the market today. I’ve tasted these breads for myself and confidently use them as part of my healthy low-carb lifestyle. If you have a hankering for bread and want to fulfill it with a wholesome low-carb alternative, then you’ve found what you’re looking for!
Click on the above image to see the nutrition label and ingredients
So you may be wondering what’s in SmartCarb High-Protein Bread? I’m glad you asked! Here are the ingredients–whole grains, bean, seeds of kamut, spelt, wheat, rye, millet, lentils, eggs, soy protein, flax, sesame, quinoa, amaranth, wheat gluten, 7 grain flakes, oat bran, sea salt & yeast. All of these ingredients are sprouted, organically grown, and are free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. They also contain very high amounts of both fiber and protein. Each slice of this bread has a whopping 12g dietary fiber and 12g protein along with just 1g net carb. If you are following a healthy low-carb lifestyle, then this bread can certainly be a welcomed addition to your meals.
One of the things that attracted me to the Julian Bakery SmartCarb bread was that it actually looked like bread. Unfortunately, when you take out all the carbohydrates that are typically found in a slice of store bought white bread (which can contain upwards of 15-20g carbs per slice), getting that bread to stay together is a challenge. But not only is it cohesive enough to mold into a typical bread shape, but the texture is undoubtedly the kind you would expect from bread. That is what makes this low-carb bread stand out from most others and why I enthusiastically recommend it above all others.
Julian Bakery ships their 1.5-pound loaves of low-carb bread anywhere in the continental United States each and every Monday, so get your order in this week. I’ve found their customer service to be stellar (and it has to be for me to do business with them!), so you won’t get frustrated when you place an order with them. They are open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM and they are available toll-free at 1-800-98-BREAD (27323) or you can visit Julian Bakery’s SmartCarb web page.
Here are a couple of personal testimonies from people who have tried the SmartCarb bread:
“This bread is the very best I’ve ever had, and it is low-carb!! Since I have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, this has been the first low-carb bread that actually doesn’t raise my blood sugar level. My problem now is that everyone in my family prefers it to any of our local bakers.”–Rob D.
“I have tried every low-carb bread on the market and I love your SmartCarb bread. You are doing an awesome job and I will continue to buy your low-carb bread for the rest of my life. I hope your company lasts a very, very long time.”–Clifton E.
As an extra incentive to give these breads a taste for yourself to see what the fuss is all about, Julian Bakery is offering readers of “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb” a special $5 Off Coupon with your order. When you call or place your order online, be sure to mention Promo Code #1520 to receive your discount. THANK YOU Julian Bakery for offering those of us who are watching our carbohydrate intake a delicious and healthy alternative to the high-carb morass that dominates the marketplace today. Let me know what you think about these breads after you try them for yourself. I promise, you WON’T be disappointed!
Jimmy, thanks so much for this critique and website link. I have ordered 2 loaves using your promo code number. I love home made hamburghers and hate having them without bread so this has really made my day! Thanks again.
Lemme know what you think, Pam!
–Jimmy
Living in San Diego we are very familiar with the Julian Bakery. I have bought this bread regularly from my local low carb store, which is sadly closing it’s doors, and it is by far the product that most keeps me sane. I would eat it by the loaf if I wasn’t afraid of going into a fiber coma. Moving to the east coast this summer I was dreading not having my low carb bread. I am glad to hear they ship it. It freezes great so feel free to get the best deal you can and save some for later. I have also tried their low carb bread with almonds and raisins. Man!, toast it and slather it in good old saturated fat butter and you are in.
THANKS for sharing your experience, Joe!
–Jimmy
When I saw “low carb bread,” I guessed the ingredients included soy protein, and indeed there is. The soy protein is not from sprouted soybeans. Notice how the ingredient follows eggs and is not included with the other sprouted grains and beans. Soy protein is soy protein isolate, a very common ingredient in fake meats, frozen and canned foods, and low-carb products. I avoid it because it is a highly processed ingredient with some possible health concerns. It’s too bad they had to include it with other minimally, naturally processed ingredients. I’m neither a soyphobe nor a soy fan. I eat soy in moderation, usually in fermented forms like tempeh and soybean paste (miso) since the fermentation process eliminates the anti-nutrient properties.
THANKS for sharing your comments about the bread, Sonagi. This is one of those personal decisions people will have to make about their own choices on the low-carb lifestyle. I try to limit my soy intake, too, but I’m not hyper-obsessive about it as some people are.
–Jimmy
Jimmy the bread looks so yummy.
I finally posted on my old blog my favorite new creation of a low carb pizza. I hope you and Christine will give it a try. I just love it!
THANKS Susie! I may give it a whirl sometime.
–Jimmy
Although I am trying to avoid many of the ingredients in that bread now, I have had it before and it’s excellent. Tons of flavor and I even preferred that bread over “normal” multigrain wheat bread loaded with sugar and/or molasses… and that’s sayin’ something, considering the recovering sugar addict I am.
THANKS for your comments about the Julian Bakery breads, KD.
–Jimmy
Julian Bakery has responded to the soy issue someone brought up:
Our Smart Carb bread does not have a soy isolate in it. Our bread does however have a soy milk powder that we abbreviated to soy protein which is not a GMO. The soy milk powder we used is far less processed.
I ordered the “Manna from Heaven” loaf because it contained no soy and it was 10 grams of carbs with 8 grams of dietary fiber per slice! Just ate it yesterday and although it’s a small loaf it was so, so good and filling! Will order again.
I am going to order this bread but I’m a little skeptical of the carb count and would like to know if this has been proven. I loved a low carb bread called golden crunch only to find out later that the company had been fudging on their counts. Once burned, twice shy.
Cheryl
I hear you, Cheryl! Check your own blood sugar levels just to make sure, but I haven’t heard of any issues.
–Jimmy
Jimmy:
I am a type 2 diabetic and was excited to find this bread. It is a local bakery so I picked some up last Monday. I add nothing to my diet without testing.The results were very disappointing to say the least.
It sounded too good to be true and it was.
I used 2 slices to make a cheeseburger with a little pickle relish, onion, Helnz “One Carb” Ketchup and some Best Foods (Hellman’s) olive oil mayo. Probably 4 net carbs for the whole thing. I tested before eating at 103. My first postprandial at 74 mnutes showed a spike of 43 points (156). That looked like an error, so I used a new alcohol scrub and retested up 33 this time (136). I tested again 20 minutes later, up 41 by now (144). After 2 hours it had dropped back, but was still up 29 points (132)
One of the reasons that I picked this test was that I had eaten basically the same thing two days ago at lunch, but with a net 3 gram lo-carb toritlla (not that tasty) and got no bump at all. I didn’t test immediately before, but it was down 5 polnts from my fasting Bg and down 18 points from a relatively hi-carb breakfast (yogurt and blueberriies)
I tested twice the next day. I had one slice at breakfast with my bacon and eggs. I got a 14 point bounce after 1 hr 14 min, but I have had that before without the toast. My breakfast numbers seem to vary all over the place, from a drop of 9 to a bump of 15, so that number is not conclusive.
I tested again that evening, eating a chicken tender made into a sandwich with 1 slice of bread with butter and mayo. I tested immediately prior and my postprandial readings were a 35 point bounce at 1+14 (138), down to 34 at 1+30 (137) and 21 at 1+45 (124). I had eaten the same at lunch with a net 3g Lo-carb tortilla with a 1 point bounce.
I don’t know why, but I decided to complete the series by testing at breakfast again this morning. Two slices of Smart Carb #2 with a piece of breakfast sausage (so I would not be eating naked carbs). More bad news. This resulted in hr-128(14)/1+15-134(20)/1+30-144(30)/1+45-141(27).
I know YMMV, but these numbers are ridiculous.
I really do question their claims.
Certainly not recommended for type 2s
I spoke with Julian Bakery and here was their response to your concerns, John:
“We would definitely recommend our Manna From Heaven to all Type 2 diabetes patients as it had been specifically tested by Dr. Ron Rosedale. As to why the Smart Carb bread did not agree with this person I am not sure but we have many testimonials from customers with Type 2 diabetes that eat our Smart Carb bread without any problems.”
–Jimmy
I wonder if Julians has ever had the bread tested by an unbiased lab? Firstly, the numbers don’t add up. Using their calorie count, fat and protein counts, there is actually 3.5 grams per slice. And for the listed ingredients, that seems like a low number. They should spend the $200 and have their bread tested and claims verified.
That said, it IS delicious. But sadly, until those numbers are verified, I won’t be reordering.
I’ll pass on your comments to them, Sue! THANKS!
–Jimmy
This bread is really delicious. I ordered just one loaf (should have ordered MORE!) because I just wanted to try it out. I am about to order 3! I love it. Love to make french toast with it…satisfies my craving for sweets.
AWESOME Jessica! I too love making French toast with the Julian Bakery bread. They make INCREDIBLE grilled cheeses, too.
–Jimmy
This bread raises my blood sugar very high. It causes me to use a lot of insulin. However, I am super carb sensitive and someone else may not be. So, For me- this bread, is a big NO NO.
After reading Dr. Bernsteins book- I understand that such high fiber products may raise blood sugar of many type 2 diabetics even though they are low in “net” carbs. So now, I just look at actual carbs, never mind the fiber and I do not have blood sugar jumps.
So, basically- adious bread…But I would rather live that eat bread any day!
Just received my first order of bread and it’s wonderful! I’ll definitely be ordering more. Not only is it healthy and low carb, but tastes delicious. Thanks for the recommendation!
Jimmy, I really enjoy your website. As for Julian Bakery Carb 1 bread, it’s definitely the best. It doesn’t touch my glucose, but that may be because I do mild to medium exercises after meals. The bread is excellent toasted up, made into french bread, or even served up with tri-tip roast, onions and mayo. Like Georgiana, I am carb sensitive, but then again i work out after meals.