HOW would we manage without bread? The "staff of life" is one of the oldest foods known to man and has been a staple part of our diet for more than 5,000 years.

The ancient Egyptians were the first to discover yeast and produce risen loaves but back then choice was limited, to say the least.

The Romans introduced better wheat and better bread-making methods and flavoured their breads with honey and fruit. Now we are faced with an array of delicious loaves in our shops and supermarkets, from ciabatta to seeded batch loaves, and know much more than our ancestors about how good bread is for us.

The Flour Advisory Bureau says research has shown that flour, particularly wholemeal, is an excellent source of phytochemicals, a group of antioxidants and phytoestrogens which have powerful disease and cancer preventing properties.