The tradition of sourdough fermentation has been around for thousands of years, and for good reason. Bakers and their customers long ago realized that slow-fermented sourdough breads have health benefits. Today, science supports this — during fermentation, the beneficial bacteria in sourdough start breaking down the components of the dough. In a sense, it’s a type of pre-digestion, which makes it much easier on the stomach and digestive system. Since carbohydrates are also broken down, sourdough bread causes a lower rise in blood sugar compared to regular bread.