Introduction
Many of us know that pasta is an Italian food. But the goodness of delicious pasta has attracted people all over the world, including India. Pasta is made in India, and it is slowly gaining popularity. Pasta made from whole grain has vital nutrients required for the human body, including proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates. It has low or nil sugar and nil cholesterol. This article tells you about the main nutrients in pasta.
Benefits of eating pasta
Eating pasta can have many benefits. The important benefits are listed below.
- Compared to other instant foods, pasta stands out as a healthy and balanced choice. It has protein, less saturated fats, and you can cook it with a choice of fresh vegetables. Pasta may also go well with fish and poultry items. You can also add cheese.
- The carbohydrates in the pasta keep you energetic, and the fiber in it may help you with digestion.
- Pasta cooked with a mix of green vegetables can keep your stomach filled for a sufficiently long time.
- Most packed pasta brands are reasonably priced and affordable.
- Pasta is easy to cook, even for newbies to the culinary area. Most pasta brands provide simple and easy-to-follow cooking instructions on the package. You also have instant pasta that can be ready for eating within 10 minutes.
- Pasta comes in over 350 shapes. So, you may not get bored with it easily.
- Pasta has nil or very low sugar. In the majority of cases, the added sugar is nil.
- The glycemic index of durum wheat pasta is around 47. So, even people with diabetes can add a bit of pasta to their diet. However, if you are new to pasta, please consult your doctor before adding it to your diet.
- If you are allergic to gluten, there are gluten-free pastas made from brown rice, jowar, ragi, Bengal gram, maize, etc.
Main nutrients in pasta
100 grams of pasta can give you around 350 to 360 kcals of energy. The nutrients in pasta include carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, and sodium. Pasta has nil or very low sugar. Some brands have fortified pasta to add essential vitamins and minerals.
The image below gives you compiled nutritional information for a few brands of durum wheat pasta and gluten-free pasta.
You may watch this and this YouTube videos on health benefits of pasta.
Conclusion
Compared to many processed foods, pasta cooked with green vegetables can be a healthy choice. Read the nutrients and ingredients chart printed on the package before purchase.
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Note
Health, food allergy, and similar issues differ from person to person. And, there are foods that may not be suitable for certain persons. So, if you are eating pasta first time, please seek the advice of the doctor before adding it to your diet. Please read and understand the ingredient list and allergen cautions on the package.
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References:
https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-eat-pasta
https://www.webmd.com/diet/are-there-health-benefits-of-durum-wheat