Pasta Nutritional?

Today we are still talking about pasta because who knows you might not know. A lot of athletes and scientist/nutritionists/doctors know. But, what about you?


Did you know that pasta is Italian for dough? Ok maybe not quite this type to the left, but it would be if it was boiled. It has the important factors... flour, eggs, and water.


Pasta is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, which means it's not just a complex carbohydrate food.



You can get as much energy from it as you would in a "pure" protein like steak, but with little or no fat. So you can eat pasta and go run a mile. That's so cool!



There are 8 amino acids that are required to make up a complete protein and pasta has 6 of those. To make it complete just add a small amount of meat, fish, cheese, pulses or eggs! And did you notice? Most of those ingredients are in traditional pastas anyway!



Pasta with egg is the nutrient winner, however wholewheat pasta has the highest percentage of vitamins and fibre.



Pasta is inexpensive (when cooked by you), quick and easy to cook, and very versatile. Which is so nice in this economy and world today.



The key to healthy eating lies in eating pasta as the Italians do, with a small amount of ingredients. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I like that, lol.



In Italy, it is traditional for pasta to be served as a first course, before the main course of fish or meat. Usually, there's only a small spoonful of sauce and a light sprinkling of grated cheese.



Heart disease is the lowest in Italy, compared to the rest of the civilized world. Doctors, nutritionists and scientists agree that the Italian diet plays a large role in this. Just think... Italian cooking includes extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh or canned tomatoes, olives, onions, parsley, and fresh peppers. Plus loads of fresh fish, veggies, fruit, and pulses. That's why the little red heart is stamped on packages of pasta.

However, you must be careful when thinking about colored pastas. Make sure they don't include artificial colorings! Because that part kills the all natural and healthy pasta pitch. ;)



So, think healthy the next time you see a plate of pasta. Remember it's only healthy if you keep it healthy, because every healthy food can become unhealthy with the things you add.



Pasta it's nutritious and delicious!
Jeeks



For more info see The Pasta Bible by Feni Wright.