Passover Arrives - Discover the Matzahs on the Shelves

If the Israelites had eaten regular matzahs during their exodus from Egypt, we might still be stuck there today. Not because of Pharaoh or the Egyptians, but due to the stomach pains and traffic jams in the digestive system... Now, 5,000 years after the cornerstone event of the Jewish people, it's worth getting to know the abundance of matzahs offered to us. All, of course, are kosher for Passover.

Spelt Flour Organic Matza: This matza contains whole organic spelt flour and water. We probably owe this type of matza for our status as free people. What does that mean? Spelt is the grain closest to the mother of wheat. The wheat we eat today is cultivated wheat. Our ancestors ate uncultivated wheat, which is likely what we now call spelt. It is a whole grain, with all the advantages of whole grains. And no, don’t confuse it with buckwheat. When the Israelites left Egypt, pesticides were yet to be invented, so they only ate organic. Hence, they ate matzahs made from whole and organic spelt flour.

Rye Flour Matza and Matza with Rye Flour: The first contains both rye flour and whole wheat flour. The second contains primarily whole wheat flour but also rye flour.

Matza with Rye: Ingredients – whole wheat flour, rye (10%), water.

Rye Matza: Ingredients – whole rye (52%), whole wheat flour 43%, water.

Since rye is a whole grain, these matzahs are rich in dietary fiber, with all their benefits.

Yemeni Matza: For those unfamiliar, Yemeni matzahs are soft, tasty, and delightful. They are matzas that resemble the Yemeni "saluf" (pita). The matza is made only from whole wheat, not white wheat. The mixture also includes, of course, water and salt. To prevent the matza from leavening while keeping it soft, the working surface is floured with sifted millet flour. Millet is a legume, and thus, the matza is only kosher for Passover for those who eat legumes. The matzahs are kept frozen until the holiday.

Just note that each Yemeni matza weighs 100 grams and contains 370 calories(!!!), equivalent to five regular slices of bread, and it is less filling than bread.

Whole Wheat Flour Matzahs: Again, a more beneficial idea for our poor stomachs. There are organic and regular options. One can eat one matza in the morning, spreading a thin layer of nutritious spread on half. Break it exactly in the middle to make a sandwich. If you add a fresh vegetable salad, you get a good breakfast without ruining the diet.

Matza Shemura: Pay attention to what's listed in the ingredient list. If it states "contains: 100% whole wheat flour and water," or "contains wheat flour and water only. Contains 9 grams of dietary fiber" - go for it, to your health!

Matza with Bran: Contains whole wheat, wheat bran, and water. The matza contains a large amount of dietary fiber due to the addition of wheat bran, but that's exactly the problem. The phytic acid in the wheat bran causes minerals to be absorbed less in the body. As a result, minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and more are lost from us due to the presence of the phytic acid. So, whole wheat is excellent, but adding wheat bran is not good.

Pay attention to the ingredient list. Contains: whole wheat flour, bran (10%). Or contains: 80% whole wheat flour, 20% wheat bran, 23.1 grams of dietary fibers.

Matza for Celiacs - Potato Cracker Matza – Contains: tapioca starch, potato starch, potato flakes, palm fat, modified starch (E1414) water, dietary fibers (potato), honey, egg yolk powder, salt, vinegar, leavening agent (sodium bicarbonate). Dietary fibers – 2.2. Which is not very healthy, and also not truly matza. Therefore, it is eaten only because there is no other option.

Chocolate-Coated Matzahs with Candies: Contains: wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa powder 5.3%, water, vanillin, (candies 12%: sugar, starch, tapioca, food colors: Tartrazine E 102, Sunset Yellow E 110, Allura Red E 129, Brilliant Blue E 103).

Calories per 100 grams – 484. Oh no!

Spelt Flour Matzo Meal: If this exists as matzahs, it also exists as flour. You can make pancakes, kneidlach, and put this in patties. I recommend buying a quantity that will last all year. Note! After the holiday, their price drops. But they quickly disappear from the shelves. So, hurry up!

The Nutritional Value of the Matzahs (per 100 grams):

Water: Everyone knows it's important to drink water after eating matzahs. But I think most don't really know why. So here's the answer: When drinking water after eating whole wheat matzahs, the dietary fibers in the matzahs swell, increasing the weight of the waste in the colon. The result – the waste, which is toxic to the body, is disposed of rapidly. Therefore, it's recommended to eat whole wheat matzahs (from spelt, rye, or wheat), and water must be drunk to avoid unpleasant digestive system effects.

Want to know more? Purchase the "Grow Healthy" series conducted by naturopath Sarah Bar Asher at the Jewish Campus of Hidabroot.

Sarah Bar Asher is a naturopath and lecturer on topics of nutrition and the food industry. Barasher@zahav.net.il