Pasta is considered one of the most popular foods throughout the entire world. Not only is it absolutely delicious, but it can be served with just about any type of food, so it’s extremely versatile, as well. The greatest thing about pasta isn’t that it’s absolutely yummy or that it can be served with sauce, veggies, seafood, or steak. No, the greatest thing about pasta is that eating it is actually beneficial in so many different ways! If you’re a pasta lover, keep reading to discover how one of your favorite foods is actually helping you!
Pasta is Filling
One of the greatest benefits of pasta is that it’s extremely filling. There’s no need to stuff yourself full of junk food after eating pasta because your belly is too full to even attempt it. If you’re trying to keep the chips, candies, and cakes out of your hands, then it’s time to start adding more pasta to your weekly menu.
High in Nutrients and Fiber
Whole grain pasta can provide an incredible amount of health benefits to your body. These benefits include:
Vitamins
Whole grains contain an array of different vitamins, such as niacin, thiamine, and folate.
Minerals
Whole grains also contain minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
Protein
It’s believed that whole grains contain several grams of protein with every serving.
Antioxidants
There are several compounds in the whole grounds that can act as antioxidants. These include lignans, ferulic acid, sulfur, and phytic acid.
Plant Compounds
There are also plant compounds in whole grains that help play a role in preventing disease, including polyphenols, stanols, and sterols.
Lower the Risk of Heart Disease
One of the greatest benefits of whole grain pasta is its ability to lower your risk of heart disease, which is undoubtedly the leading cause of death in the world. It’s believed that eating 1-ounce of whole grains on a daily basis can actually lower your risk of heart disease by 22%!
Lower Your Risk of Stroke
Some of the compounds in whole grains can actually reduce your risk of stroke, as well as heart disease. Some of these compounds are fiber, vitamin K, and antioxidants. If you’d like to start living a more healthy lifestyle, then adding whole grains into your diet on a daily basis can make a whole world of difference.
Reduce the Risk of Obesity
It goes without saying that obesity throughout the world is on the rise, but this is especially true for people living in the United States. Food has become more accessible and convenient, meaning people aren’t going out of their way to cook nutritious meals for themselves or their families. With that being said, pasta could be beneficial for those trying to lose weight. Because foods that are full of fiber tend to fill you up much quicker, whole grain pasta can actually help fight against obesity.
Lower the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people all over the world. Unfortunately, if not treated carefully, diabetes can cause an incredible amount of health issues, and ultimately, death. This is why it’s so important for people with diabetes to carefully monitor the food they’re eating. As we said before, fiber-rich whole grains can help with weight control and obesity, but studies have also linked a whole-grain intake to lower fasting sugar levels and improved insulin sensitivity, which is absolutely essential to those suffering from diabetes.
Pasta is Affordable
Even if you don’t necessarily need to save money on food, pasta is a great way to make an affordable meal for your family. Typically, all you need is a box of pasta, or you can make your own, a jar of sauce, and a bit of meat and veggies to make a nice, filling meal for your entire family.
It’s Versatile
As we said before, pasta is an unbelievably versatile food. Not only can you make a pasta dish for dinner, but you can also add pasta into a salad, have it as an appetizer, or even incorporate it into certain desserts. Pasta is especially good to have on those nights when you have no clue what to make and you don’t really have the energy to put into looking for something else. On those days where it seems like nothing can go right, all you have to do is grab the pasta and sauce and call it a day.
You Don’t Have to Be a Chef
It goes without saying that we’re not all chefs in the kitchen. Some of us are more familiar with smoke and flames than we are smoked sausage and flambe. With that being said, pasta is so easy to make that even a pre-teen could figure it out. While it’s pretty easy to make, you still have to be cautious about overcooking the pasta or pasta sauce. Unfortunately, if you can’t make either one of those, then pasta might not be the best meal for you to make. If that’s the case, then you should just stick to cereal.
They Come in Fun Shapes
The fact that pasta comes in all kinds of fun shapes may not be appealing to grown-ups, but kids sure do like it. If you have a picky kid at home, or you just want to make dinner a fun time for your child, then you could try to make some alphabet soup or even a plate of spaghetti “worms”. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination and creativity.
As you can clearly see, there is an unbelievable amount of benefits that come with eating pasta on a regular basis. With that being said, you should most certainly include pasta into your meal planning more often. Worried about eating the same thing too many times? Well, the good news is that there are thousands of recipes on the internet that include pasta. All you need to do is do a little research and find some recipes that you and your family will surely enjoy!
