A wonderful new study has concluded that rather than making us pile on the pounds, a bowl of pasta can actually help you lose weight. That’s right, that piping hot bowl of spaghetti carbonara, or comforting Sunday night pasta bake, could be an integral part of your diet plan.
The study looked at the body weight and BMI of 2,488 participants, over 30 trials.
They all maintained a low GI diet, while eating 3.3 servings of pasta a week. This was in place of other carbs.
And researchers found that those who had eaten pasta every week didn’t put on weight, but actually saw a small weight loss. Amazing!
Dr John Sievenpiper, who lead the study, said “The study found that that pasta didn’t contribute to weight gain or increase in body fat.
“In fact, analysis actually showed a small weight loss. So contrary to concerns, perhaps pasta can be part of a healthy diet such as low-GI diet.
“In weighing the evidence, we can now say with some confidence that pasta does not have an adverse effect on body weight outcomes when it is consumed as part of a healthy dietary pattern.”
The study states that there is no direct link between eating pasta and putting on weight. Researchers at the Neuromed Institute in Pozzilli, Italy, found that those who consumed pasta on a regular basis had a ‘lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio’.
George Pounis, lead author of the report, said: ‘By analysing anthropometric data of the participants and their eating habits we have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite.
‘Our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals’ needs contributes to a healthy body mass index.’
It should also be noted that his study was conducted on Italians mostly eating a healthy Mediterranean diet, of which pasta is a traditional component. Licia Lacoviello, head of molecular and nutritional epidemiology at the Neuromed Institute, said: ‘The message emerging from this study, is that Mediterranean diet, consumed in moderation and respecting the variety of all its elements, is good to your health.’
🙂 Feeling inspired? Try one of these tasty pasta dishes…
