Get Easy Health Digest™ in your inbox and don’t miss a thing when you subscribe today. Plus, get the free bonus report, Mother Nature’s Tips, Tricks and Remedies for Cholesterol, Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar as my way of saying welcome to the community!
How to turn pasta into a ‘health food’
When you think of maintaining optimal health and weight, pasta is probably not the first food you think of. In fact, it may not be on your list at all.
True, it’s full of carbs.
True, if you eat too much of it you can really pack on the pounds.
And true, your basic, white spaghetti has little to recommend it compared to other more nutritious carbs like whole grains.
But here’s a surprise for you: Pasta really does have a place at your table. If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight, control blood sugar, or control your blood pressure, some pasta on your plate isn’t a bad idea at all.
«SPONSORED»
6 reasons to eat more pasta
Believe it or not, a bowl of pasta has much to recommend it as part of a healthy diet.
1. It’s filling. If you leave a meal feeling full and satisfied, you’re less likely to reach for a snack in between meals.
2. It’s low in salt. Of all the dinner foods you could choose, pasta is pretty low in the sodium department, so it doesn’t add to the risk of hypertension. (Just don’t add that sodium back in by overdoing the sauces).
3. It’s also low in fat. For a filling dish, your bowl of pasta does not add much fat to your diet. Again, just don’t drench it in butter and oil, or that goes out the window
4. It has a low glycemic index. The glycemic index (GI) of a food measures how fast its sugar enters your bloodstream. Including foods with a low GI in your diet can help lower the risk of diabetes and obesity.
5. It can be part of a gluten-free diet. Pasta made from quinoa, buckwheat, and even vegetables is tasty alternative to wheat pasta.
6. You can eat it for dessert. That’s right! A simple baked noodle dish called kugel originated in Eastern Europe. It’s made from noodles, cinnamon, cottage cheese, raisins, and sugar.
«SPONSORED»
5 ways to make pasta even healthier
Pasta is a staple in diets around the world, in places where people enjoy good health and longevity. With a little know-how pasta can be a much healthier food you can enjoy guilt-free. Here’s how…
1. Cool your noodles down. If you eat pasta at room temperature or below, what you get is “resistant starch” which functions like fiber. It helps reduce appetite and doesn’t cause blood sugar spikes. So, enjoy a delicious cool pasta salad.
2. Watch the sauce. Again, a bowl of meat tortellini can be a satisfying lunch or dinner when combined with a green salad. But if you pour on the salty, fatty sauces and oils, it changes everything.
A drizzle of olive oil and some grated Parmesan cheese is a great choice.
3. Add some protein and veggies. There are so many recipes that combine pasta with healthy vegetables and proteins like chicken and fish! Just sauté some broccoli and chicken, throw in a little olive oil, and you’ve got a healthy, filling meal!
4. Try whole-wheat pasta. While the nutrition in whole wheat pasta is not comparable to that of, say, a slice of sprouted or whole grain bread, it does have some nutritional advantages over white pasta.
Whole wheat pasta has more fiber and less fat than the white kind. But, if it’s vitamins and minerals you’re after, keep in mind that most white pasta is “enriched,” and comes out ahead in that department.
5. Try veggie noodles. That’s right. Some nutritious vegetables, such as sweet potatoes or zucchini, lend themselves to being “spiraled” with a kitchen machine you can purchase, making them come out looking like spaghetti. Many groceries sell these “vegetable noodles” as well.
Of course, they don’t taste exactly like pasta, but you may find them a pleasing alternative once you try them.
And of course, there’s spaghetti squash, which can be served with sauces much like spaghetti can.
One caution: beware those commercial kinds of pasta that claim they are made of vegetables like spinach. There’s really not a lot of vegetables in there. You’re much better off with veggie noodles as described above.
The bottom line: if you enjoy pasta wisely, it can add nutritional value to your diet without doing damage to your waistline or your health.
Editor’s note: Are you feeling unusually tired? You may think this is normal aging, but the problem could be your master hormone. When it’s not working, your risk of age-related diseases skyrockets. To reset what many call “the trigger for all disease” and live better, longer, click here to discover The Insulin Factor: How to Repair Your Body’s Master Controller and Conquer Chronic Disease!
Sources:
- Buon Appetito: 14 Reasons to Eat More Pasta — WebMD
- Swap Your White Pasta For One Of These 6 Healthier Varieties — huffpost.com
- Is Pasta Healthy or Unhealthy? — Healthline
By Joyce Hollman
«SPONSORED»
