Pasta Nutrition – Health Benefits of the Widely Popular Italian Cusine

Eating a bowl of pasta is not only a tasty idea but a healthy one as well. There are a number of health benefits of this Italian staple, including being low in saturated fats and sodium and high in fibers.

Pasta Nutrition – Healthy And Tasty

Considered at one time to be extremely fattening, there are some vital facts about pasta nutrition that makes it one of the healthiest foods to be eaten. Though a lot of carbs and fats are unhealthy for your body, a certain dose of them is needed by the body regularly. Research by the National Pasta Association shows that experts recommend a proper balance of both processed and whole/enriched grains routinely, to give the body a nutrition rich diet encompassing vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, that are immensely important to protect you from chronic illnesses. Pasta is enriched in glucose, providing the necessary fuel for your muscles and brain. Another important pasta nutrition is the complex carbohydrates it contains, that releases energy slowly into ones body, thereby helping you to sustain it for a longer period.

Calories In Pasta – Facts And Figures

Being extremely low in sodium and cholesterol-free, the calories in pasta are in pretty lesser amounts than other foods. One cup of cooked pasta contains roughly 200 calories, just 40 gms of carbohydrates and 1 gm of fat. Generally though, the fat content and calories will vary depending on the type of dough used, the amount of oil and eggs used to knead the dough, etc. Pasta is generally made from refined flour, but unlike white bread, uncooked pasta has very little fat. A bowl of pasta will also enrich you with iron and Vitamin B – riboflavin, niacin and thiamine, apart from six of the eight essential amino acids that it contains. Whole wheat pasta contains even better levels of nutrients and has negligible amounts of calories. Italians believe in healthy eating and thus they prefer very little amount of sauce and more of vegetables and proteins in their pasta. The calories in pasta will definitely come down even more if you substitute the sauce with fiber-rich greens, protein rich fish and poultry, mineral-rich mushrooms, unsaturated fats like olive oils and tomatoes that are rich in antioxidants.

Pasta Nutrition Facts – Wholesome Foods

Some of the most crucial pasta nutrition facts are that they are low in glycemic index (GI), and they are completely preservative free. Maintaining proper levels of GI is vital for pasta to remain nutritious, as too much cooking of the pasta will raise its GI and lower the dietary fibers. This is because GI measures the speed at which carbs trigger a response in your blood sugar level. The more carbs, the more the level rises. Hence it is necessary that cooked pasta is kept ‘al dente’ or firm enough to bite through. Pasta is a great source of energy to athletes as it releases energy over a longer time period, helping them to sustain that vital energy during tiring exercises, swimming, marathons, bike races, etc. You can substitute the high fat content sauces and cheese and eggs by replacing them with low fat yoghurts, tofu, egg whites and lots of green vegetables.