Pasta is good for the health especially if eaten according to Mediterranean diet. (Photo : You Tube/Tasty)
Carbohydrate-heavy foods have always been thought to be fattening. Aside from rice, pasta is the other food that people usually avoid due to its carbohydrate content. However, recent research revealed that contrary to beliefs, pasta actually helps one to lose weight if prepared as part of the Mediterranean diet.
On July 4, the Department of Epidemiology of the Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) in Italy stated in a press release that their study led to the discovery of a link between the consumption of pasta and weight loss. At the end of the research, the scientists concluded that pasta in the Mediterranean diet is non-fattening, rather, it can reduce the threat of obesity.
In the press release, George Pounis, lead researcher of the study, said they analyzed anthropometric data of the participants and their eating habits. Through this, he said thay have seen that "consumption of pasta is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite."
Pounis added that eating pasta according to the person's needs adds to a healthy body mass index, smaller waist circumference and improved proportion of the hips and waist. While the researchers promote the addition of pasta to the diet, they still emphasized the importance of balance diet and self-control when eating.
The study started in 2005 and it was published in the Journal of Nutrition and Diabetes. Initially, the research was carried out to determine the genetic elements underlying cancer, cardiovascular disease and other health conditions, and more than 23,000 people signed up as participants.
The research proved that individuals who consumed pasta on a regular basis did not gain weight and those who were overweight noticed weight loss. These people also ate their meals according to the Mediterranean diet plan which usually use olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, onions rice and seasoned cheese.
According to the Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology at Neuromed Institute head Licia Iacoviello, they did not differentiate the types of pasta that people ate during the study, but there is another research which suggests that slightly undercooked spaghetti had the most affirmative effect on blood sugar levels. She added that it is best to pair the pasta with fish, tomato, extra virgin olive oil, legumes and vegetable instead of meat or animal fats.
Check out this Mediterranean diet recipe for spaghetti with olive pesto and shrimp:
