Can Fresh Bread Cause Stomach Pain?

When fresh bread causes stomach pains, it is usually not the fault of the baked goods themselves. The yeast in the dough does not rise any further after baking and therefore does not lead to fermentation processes, flatulence, or indigestion in the digestive tract. On the contrary, eating fresh bread too quickly can lead to stomach aches. Because the warm pastry smells and tastes very appetizing when it comes out of the oven.

The warning that fresh bread causes stomach ache is therefore also attributed to the food shortages of the war and post-war period. The fresh scent tempted those who were very hungry to eat the bread in a hurry. As a result, the bites are often not chewed properly and a lot of air is swallowed when eating. Sensitive people who tend to have stomach or intestinal problems can experience flatulence and painful stomach pressure and a feeling of fullness.

Older bread is harder and needs to be chewed thoroughly before it can be swallowed. Therefore, it enters the digestive tract already more broken up and with less air, which consequently has less work to do. Anyone who chews fresh bread and oven-warm cakes extensively and takes their time eating them should have just as few problems.

The situation is different with raw bread or cake dough. If they contain raising agents such as yeast and baking powder, they can produce carbon dioxide in the stomach. Although this is not harmful to health, it does lead to flatulence and abdominal pain.