DR ZAKS

Their range of products currently focusses on providing high protein alternatives to typically carbohydrate rich processed foods, such as breads and pasta. They also claim that their versions are lower in carbohydrate than the standard alternative, although not really low enough to be classified as ‘low carb’.

This review will focus on their sliced loaf, Dr Zaks High Protein Bread. Dr Zaks High Protein Bread packaging

The first thing you notice when picking up a loaf of the High Protein Bread is the weight. This loaf is heavy, weighing in at 850g! With the bread being that heavy I was a little sceptical as to what the consistency would be like.

Each serving of two slices provides 30g of protein (so 15g of protein per slice) and an equal amount of carbohydrate (which it claims is 30% lower than standard wholemeal bread). The bread is higher in calories due to the protein content, at about 150 kcals per slice.

When opening the packet you will find that the bread appears much like a standard wholemeal sliced loaf. The slices are large and evenly sized, which is great for making sandwiches. It can also be stored like a standard wholemeal loaf, with prolonged shelf life when refrigerated or frozen. The bread slices have the same appearance and texture of regular wholemeal bread

How Does It Taste? For my taste test I wanted to try the bread in several different ways, typical to how you would eat your typical loaf. As a sandwich, toasted with some peanut butter and finally trying it in a recipe.

Sandwich The great thing about making a sandwich using bread which provides 30g of protein is that you can be more lenient with the filling when on a high protein diet. You no longer have to stack lean meat in there just to get the protein content up.

I tried a sandwich with a little ham, low fat cheese, tomato and salad leaves and it tasted great. The bread was soft and flavoursome like a good wholemeal loaf.

A definite winner as a sandwich.

Toasted Next, I popped a couple of slices into the toaster to enjoy with my favourite natural peanut butter, a typical weekend breakfast for me and lots of others according to the fitness forums I frequent.

The bread is a little denser than other loaves and this becomes more apparent when toasted. The texture was more like a toasted English muffin. I may be a little biased here as I love toasted muffins, but for me, this surpassed other toasted bread.

Plus, as the protein content is so high, there is no need to supplement further (which often sees me mixing whey into my peanut butter or having a shake alongside my breakfast).

This may become my first choice for breakfast loaf in the future.

Cooking I decided to try making a dish which I loved as a youngster and is typically seen as a low protein, high carbohydrate dish. My mom’s bread pudding.

In order to keep with the theme here, I was going for a reduced carbohydrate and fat version, with a high protein content per serving. But, the test was whether the protein bread would provide the same taste and texture of a traditional bread pudding.

During cooking, the bread absorbed fluids as I would have expected and required about the same cooking time. The finished product tasted great and didn’t last very long!

If you’re interested, you can get the full recipe at Dr Zaks Bodybuilding Bread Pudding.

Nutritional Analysis per 2 slices : per 100g Energy 302 kcals 258 kcals Protein 30.2g 25.8g Carbohydrate 29.8g 25.5g (sugars) 5g 4.3g Fat 5.8g 5g Fibre 4.1g 3.5g Dr Zacks High Protein Bread currently comes in a standard loaf of 850g containing 14 slices. The macros look like this;

This gives a macro profile of 41:41:18 (PRO:CHO:FAT).

As you would not usually eat the bread alone, the final profile will entirely depend on how you prepare your meal. Plus, it would not usually be consumed around sport so I will refrain from suggesting sports related uses, but with it’s high protein content it can turn any sandwich into a great recovery snack or meal. It will also contribute nicely to a carbohydrate controlled diet due to its reduced carbohydrate content.

Conclusion I was initially sceptical about a loaf fortified with protein. I’ve tried protein enriched products in the past and often found them a bit pointless due to both the small quantity of protein and the needless enriching of something which is not typically a protein food. They also tend to be a bit chewy and lacking in flavour.

But, I was very surprised with Dr Zaks High Protein Bread. It tastes great, better even than many regular wholemeal loaves. The lower carbohydrate content makes it attractive to those watching their carbs, and the higher protein content makes it easier to create a balanced sandwich without using much protein rich fillers. It also provides a very convenient breakfast.

The retail price is currently £5.49 (which can vary depending on outlet). Some may find this a little pricey for a loaf (which it is), but you have to consider what this replaces in your diet. It doesn’t just replace your bread, but also some of your protein sources. Plus, at a push, a couple of slices with some peanut butter or a low fat spread makes a perfectly acceptable protein bar substitute.

For me, this is a winner on taste and nutritional content, which I will continue to use. But, I will probably purchase from stores which offer it at a discounted price, or buy batches for freezing.