Who doesn’t love a steaming bowl of pasta? For those who cherish this delicious carbohydrate, it often feels like they can’t enjoy it as much as they’d like.
“Pasta is a staple carbohydrate in many cultures but has been implicated in overweight and obesity due to its status as a processed carbohydrate,” wrote nutrition researchers Lisa Sanders and Joanne Slavin in a study published on MDPI.
The pair analyzed 38 published studies on pasta consumption and body weight in both adults and children, finding that “diets high in pasta consumption were generally not associated with overweight or obesity or were inversely associated.”
In other words, they found no connection between how much pasta people ate and their likelihood of being overweight.
In fact, one of the studies they reviewed suggested that “pasta can be part of a healthy diet and does not contribute to weight gain or hinder weight loss,” the researchers wrote.
The researchers only examined data regarding traditional white pasta, not whole-grain pasta, gluten-free pasta, or egg- or rice-based noodles.
Glycemic Index
Pasta often gets a bad reputation due to its status as a white carbohydrate, which is generally considered low in nutrients and fiber and has a high glycemic index (GI).
According to the NHS, the GI rating system shows how quickly foods affect your blood sugar levels.
Foods with a high GI rating are typically carbohydrates that are broken down quickly by your body, causing a spike in blood sugar followed by increased hunger levels.
Meanwhile, “low GI foods, which cause your blood sugar levels to rise and fall more slowly, can help you feel fuller for longer,” the NHS guide explains.
This article is based on information from Pensionist.