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<p>Establishing is pasta healthy or not is much less straightforward than it seems.</p>
<p>Like all things that are absolutely delicious, there is a limit to how much pasta should feature in a balanced diet. However, that doesn&#8217;t mean that noodles, ravioli and everything in between are automatically disastrous from a health point of view.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098960" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/pexels-klaus-nielsen-6287466.jpg" alt="is pasta healthy" width="1920" height="1280" />[[imagecaption|| Many people don&#8217;t know how to answer &#8220;is pasta healthy?&#8221; (Credit: Pexels)]]</p>
<h2>Is pasta healthy?</h2>
<p>Despite arguably being the king of the carb food group, pasta can indeed be healthy when eaten in moderation..</p>
<p>In fact, alongside its status as a building block for comfort food classics, pasta is a crucial component in a balanced diet. You just have to appreciate exactly what it&#8217;s bringing to the table.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">READ MORE: <a href="https://twistedfood.co.uk/test-tiktok-baked-feta-paste-recipe">We tried the TikTok baked feta pasta recipe to see if it&#8217;s as good as everyone says</a></h4>
<p>To finally put to bed any concerns about pasta&#8217;s unhealthiness, here are some surprising benefits to eating pasta.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098961" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/pexels-klaus-nielsen-6287535.jpg" alt="Carbohydrates pasta" width="1920" height="1280" />[[imagecaption|| Carbohydrates are crucial sources of energy (Credit: Pexels)]]</p>
<h3>1. Carbohydrates</h3>
<p>Even though they&#8217;re much-maligned in dieting circles, carbohydrates are crucial in any diet. Alongside fat, carbohydrates are a crucial source of energy, providing you with a slow-release throughout the day.</p>
<p>Unlike sugars, which typically deliver a quick spike before a sharp drop-off, carbs can keep you energised for longer. This is why pasta has long been a go-to in sporting circles.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098962" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/pexels-artem-beliaikin-452744.jpg" alt="is pasta healthy salt" width="1920" height="1280" />[[imagecaption|| Excluding sauces, pasta is actually very low in salt (Credit: Pexels)]]</p>
<h3>2. Low in salt</h3>
<p>Pasta itself is actually an incredibly simple food. Essentially, it involves a mixture of eggs and flour, with a few added extras sprinkled in.</p>
<p>This simplicity means that pasta itself is actually extremely low in salt – an excess of which can lead to other health complications. Although adding sauce can quickly compromise this benefit, the basic building blocks are nonetheless a good place to start.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098963" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/Screenshot-2021-06-01-at-16.48.26.png" alt="fresh pasta fat" width="1089" height="699" />[[imagecaption|| Fresh pasta is comparatively low in fat (Credit: Alamy/RooM The Agency)]]</p>
<h3>3. Low in fat</h3>
<p>Similarly to the salt situation, pasta&#8217;s basic formula means that it&#8217;s actually really low in fat. However, things can quickly become more complicated as soon as sauce and cheese enter the equation.</p>
<p>While olive oil and parmesan are pretty fatty, it&#8217;s still perfectly possible to enjoy a low-effort, low-fat pasta dish. For instance, tomato sauces such as marinara can keep your meal pretty low fat, provided you adjust your ingredients.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098967" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/Screenshot-2021-06-01-at-17.09.40.png" alt="whole wheat pasta" width="1082" height="700" />[[imagecaption|| Whole wheat pasta is a great source of fibre (Credit: Alamy/Virginija Vaidakavičienė)]]</p>
<h3>4. Fibre</h3>
<p>Because pasta is derived from flour and wheat, it is actually a relatively good source of fibre. For example, according to the <a href="https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/pasta-contain-fiber-7225.html">US Department of Agriculture</a>, just one cup of cooked white pasta provides 2.5 grams of fibre. That&#8217;s around 10% of your daily recommended intake.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>READ MORE: <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://twistedfood.co.uk/what-scialatielli-pasta-masterchef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Everything you need to know about scialatielli pasta</a></strong></p>
<p>Fibre is crucial for aiding digestion. There is also evidence to suggest, according to the <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-get-more-fibre-into-your-diet/#:~:text=There%20is%20strong%20evidence%20that,help%20digestion%20and%20prevent%20constipation.">NHS</a> that fibre can reduce the risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098968" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/Screenshot-2021-06-01-at-17.15.13.png" alt="Whole wheat pasta" width="1076" height="705" />[[imagecaption|| Whole wheat pasta has several health benefits (Credit: Alamy/Steve Stock)]]</p>
<h3>5. Whole-grain</h3>
<p>Many of pasta&#8217;s health benefits improve enormously if you opt for whole-grain varieties. Unlike white pasta, whole grain shapes include all the nutrients associated with wheat germ.</p>
<p>Whole-grain pasta is typically much higher in fibre and contains more nutrients than other varieties. If you&#8217;re looking for an easy shortcut to boosting your pasta&#8217;s health credentials, switching to whole-grain is a great option.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098970" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/WAND3H-scaled.jpg" alt="Is pasta healthy" width="2560" height="1709" />[[imagecaption|| The surprising amount of hidden nutrients in a bowl helps answer is pasta healthy (Credit: Alamy/Vsevolod Belousov)]]</p>
<h3>6. Mineral content</h3>
<p>Even if you don&#8217;t opt for whole-grain, pasta does still have some hidden health benefits. In addition to fibre, pasta also includes key vitamins and minerals, some in surprisingly high quantity.</p>
<p>For instance, according to the <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/pasta-healthy#:~:text=Pasta%20is%20primarily%20a%20carbohydrate,allowance%20of%20fibre%20for%20adults.">BBC</a>, pasta includes significant levels of &#8220;calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, as well as B vitamins&#8221;. Even without wheat germ, there&#8217;s a lot more to a pasta bowl than meets the eye.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098973" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/pexels-klaus-nielsen-6294421-scaled-e1622564927607.jpg" alt="Reheating pasta" width="1707" height="1337" />[[imagecaption|| Reheating pasta can actually make it more healthy (Credit: Pexels)]]</p>
<h3>7. Resistant starch</h3>
<p>Interestingly, pasta can have different health benefits depending on how it&#8217;s cooked and eaten. For example, the BBC reports that cooked and then reheated pasta is actually better for you due to its transformation into resistant starch.</p>
<p>According to research from <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29629761">Doctor Denise Robertson</a>, cooked-then-cooled pasta actually acts more like fibre that starch. This means it causes a lower sugar spike and that you absorb fewer calories from eating the same amount of pasta.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-1263098974" src="https://cdn.twistedfood.co.uk/2021/06/pexels-lgh-1256875.jpg" alt="Pasta glycemic index" width="1920" height="1325" />[[imagecaption|| Pasta has a low glycemic index (Credit: Pexels)]]</p>
<h3>8. Low GI</h3>
<p>Although cooking and reheating pasta means you absorb fewer calories, there is evidence that pasta is already pretty good at regulating the amount of sugar entering your bloodstream.</p>
<p>Per <a href="https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-eat-pasta">WebMD</a>, pasta has a low Glycemic Index, meaning that it&#8217;s sugars enter the bloodstream more slowly. Evidence suggest that low GI foods can prevent diabetes and obesity.</p>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">READ MORE: <a href="https://twistedfood.co.uk/twisted-guides-the-best-pasta-dishes-that-arent-from-italy">Pasta dishes that aren&#8217;t Italian &#8211; A Twisted guide</a></h4>
<p>Clearly going full Garfield and eating an entire lasagne yourself every evening isn&#8217;t going to get you in your GP&#8217;s good graces.</p>
<p>However, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that pasta does have some surprising health benefits. While it might not have the health credentials of a stick of celery, it&#8217;s nonetheless reassuring that tasty food isn&#8217;t always as bad as it seems.</p>


Establishing is pasta healthy or not is much less straightforward than it seems. Like all things that are absolutely delicious, there is a limit to how much pasta should feature in a balanced diet. However, that doesn't mean that noodles, ravioli and everything in between are automatically disastrous from a&hellip;

8 Surprising Health Benefits You Never Knew About Pasta

Despite being a cornerstone of our diet, many people are unsure how to answer is pasta healthy. Here are a few things you need to know.

Is pasta healthy? 8 surprising health benefits of our favourite comfort food

02/06/2021

Twisted

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Is pasta healthy? 8 surprising health benefits of our favourite comfort food

02/06/2021

Twisted

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