Health benefits of Pasta

Pasta meals are enjoyed in cultural traditions worldwide, as they are versatile and easily adaptable to national/regional seasonal ingredients.  Healthy pasta meals are a delicious way to eat more vegetables, legumes and other healthy foods often under consumed.

Here are some health benefits of pasta

Fibre

Carbohydrates serve as a primary source of fuel for your body. Whole-wheat pasta also provides a considerable amount of dietary fibre, a particularly beneficial type of carbohydrate. Fibre helps fight chronic diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes and promotes digestive health. A 1-cup serving of whole-wheat pasta contains 6.3 grams of dietary fibre, providing 17 per cent of the recommended daily intake for men and 24 per cent for women.

Good for diabetics

Pasta contains manganese, a mineral that helps you metabolize carbohydrates and regulate your blood sugar. It is full of antioxidant vitamins, heart healthy fats and bodybuilding protein. Both white and whole-wheat pastas serve as excellent sources of selenium, a mineral that activates antioxidant enzymes tasked with protecting your cells from molecular damage.

Protects against cancer

Pastas prevent damage to body cells and the DNA protecting against breast and prostate cancer. It also delays the signs of ageing. Pastas when made with rich tomato sauce and delicately spiced with herbs are a rich source of an antioxidant called lycopene which is a cancer-preventative phytonutrient.

Weight loss

Delicious pasta meal, when eaten in healthy portions can be part of a successful weight loss plan. Most carbohydrate rich foods such as wholemeal bread, wholegrain cereals, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and potatoes, are low in fat, contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals and make an important contribution to our fibre intakes. And of course, high-fibre foods help to fill us up, which is why they are such a great choice when it comes to losing weight.