I wanted to ask you, professionals, the following question (with background description first).

I am Russian, maybe it's matter in this context.

Bread (as well as white potato) is always has been HUGE part of the Russian culture.

(potato being every day and every time Russian meal and rice playing the same role for Chinese is out of scope here)

Talking about bread..

Bread always was Russians... something "above all"

My grandmother (very smart lady) were saying constantly

"Bread is the head for everything."
"Bread is the origin".

Bread was (and IS!!!) explicit border between well-being and sickness. Between wealth and poverty. (poverty in the very bad way) To highlight very bad life conditions they'll say "he's so poor, he can't afford to eat BREAD." From that level it was a social crime not to help such a person. (by giving him BREAD).

Bums is collecting money (begging) for the BREAD. It's the only more or less legitimate reason.

Russians will not start eating if they don't have bread. They'll send somebody to the store and WAIT.

Eating without bread is considered to be .... not even unhealthy. WORTHLESS. "You will not gain strength without bread. Take a slice". Your family (and mine) will always insist on it.

Solders officially subscribed to have couple of slices of bread every meal. They have to eat it.

By other words, usual perception about bread is that bread is THE ONLY NECESSARY component of any diet.

Now my wife, who is a diet freak don't buy me bread because "bread is UNHEALTHY". I've heard from many people that they don't eat bread because they are scared to get fat. Here I want to say that none in my family (and my city) is fat. Don't even any hints of being chubby. And it's well-known that Russia has VERY small % of fat people altogether. (and look at average Chinese person who's every day meal is rice; and be jealous about their excellent shape).

Among Americans bread stays next to cakes and candies. (for.... what reason again?)

I started read these diet books, because first I didn't believed my wife. ("Sugar Busters", etc.). They told me stop eating not only bread but potato as well. (omg).


So my question is: WTF??? Is there any logical explanation of it? (besides bio-chemical processes inside of the body. which is explanatory, but doesn't explain MY question in a LOGICAL way).