Refined White Pasta: Not a Dieters Best Option

Pasta's great for diets, right? Maybe or maybe not. As Americans, we tend to pile pasta on our plates, thinking we are doing our diets a great favor by avoiding fat. But high-carbohydrate meals, such as those favoring refined pasta, may be working against us. Learn why, and discover what pasta you can eat instead of refined pasta that can keep the fat at bay and off your person.

Insulin and Refined Carbohydrates

When we consume a plate full of refined pasta, our pancreas secrets insulin--a fat-storing hormone--to deal with the high-carbohydrate load. For those folks who eat too many refined carbohydrates, such as pasta, that insulin secretion may be sabotaging the diet and storing fat instead.

One plate of refined pasta may not be the cause of weight gain all by itself, but continued plates can increase weight and the likelihood of heart disease and diabetes. Why is this? Here's why. Commercial pasta has had the majority of its nutrients stripped away. Even though some vitamins and minerals may have been enriched back into the product, refined pasta is depleted of fiber and those nutrients vital for proper functioning of blood-sugar, such as chromium, zinc, and manganese.

Whole-Grain Pasta Options

Instead of eating refined white pasta, consider whole-wheat pasta that is higher in nutrients and fiber. It's a much better option for good blood-sugar control than refined white pasta. If you've tried it and you don't care for the taste of whole-wheat pasta, try spelt or brown rice pasta. Spelt pasta has a nutty flavor and is a lot more nutritious than refined white pasta. Plus, it's better for blood sugar control.

Vegetable Pasta-Like Options

Here's a final option for pasta lovers who are trying to eat for better health. Try baked spaghetti squash or steamed zucchini ribbons. Eating baked spaghetti squash or zucchini ribbons, rather than grain-based pasta, means avoiding the refined pasta entirely. Spaghetti squash and zucchini ribbons are both lower in carbohydrates and are nutrient-rich vegetables instead of nutrient-deficient processed grain.

Go ahead and have your lower-fat pasta, but swap out white refined pasta with whole-grain varieties or vegetables that cook up to look like pasta. Get better nutrition, and give your pancreas a breather by keeping your insulin levels lower and your blood-sugar under control. Continue to make pasta a healthy addition to your lower-fat diet plan, but keep those refined processed grains off your dinner plate.