The Nutritional Significance of Pasta in Mediterranean Diets

Pasta is said to be a cultural food borne by the blending of rich cultures in the Mediterranean basin, which according to historians is the “cradle of society.” The Mediterranean diet for one has its origins in the ancient world but its complicated history does not follow a specific health plan. It is simply a collection of eating practices traditionally followed by Mediterranean folks, which typically include the regular consumption of pasta.

In the 1950s, the hypothesis introduced was that consumption of Mediterranean diet is linked to low incidences of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and low mortality rate. Since then researches continued to support the theory. The most recent of which are the MOLI-sani Study and the Italian Nurses Health Study, which support findings that increased consumption of semolina pasta as part of traditional Mediterranean diet can lower mortality rate.

Semolina pasta is a key component of Mediterranean meals, which studies claim, can also lower risk of metabolic syndrome and development of some types of cancer. Other findings also attributed consumption of semolina pasta to improvements in biomarkers of aging.

Knowing the Nutritional Value of Semolina Pasta

A cup of cooked semolina pasta (about 2 ounces) provides an equivalent of 25% or higher, the Daily Value of folic acid, an excellent source of B vitamin and iron. At the same time, it’s cholesterol-free and naturally low in sodium.

Pasta made from purees of vegetables like carrots, lentils, spinach, or zucchini, supply as much as ½ serving of the related vegetable. While whole-grain pasta can furnish up to 25% of recommended daily fiber intake, it is not fortified with folic acid present in semolina pasta. Commercial dry pasta manufactured in the United States is deemed healthier, as the pasta are enriched not only with folic acid but also with iron, thiamine and riboflavin.

In a Mediterranean-style diet, pasta can be consumed alone. However, following traditional preparations in Italy and in neighboring regions, it is typical to eat pasta served with olive oil, tomato sauce, herbs, spices, lean meat, vegetables, beans and/or lentils. As such, pasta dishes is an efficient way of incorporating other nutrient-rich ingredients into the diet.

However, semolina pasta cannot be served to individuals with celiac disease as it is a source of gluten.

Read MoreRead More

Should You Put Cream In Your Carbonara? Maybe, But It Will Actually Make Your Cooking Less Authentic

No other things can provide you with much comfort and pleasure during your stay at home than a delicious food. A well-prepared pasta, for example, can instantly make your troubles go away after taking one bite. Now that we are advised to remain inside our houses, we do not have all the time to spend in the market to buy ingredients for our favorite recipe. However, spaghetti alla Carbonara is among those that we can easily prepare as the ingredients are simple and it only takes a few minutes of serving time.

Many people grab an all-purpose cream from the grocery shelves for their Carbonara recipe. Cream is considered to be the primary ingredient to make the Carbonara luscious and mouth-watering. Thus, when cream is not readily available in the kitchen, cooking Carbonara is already off the list. However, you will be surprised to know that Carbonara can be served without cream. In fact, cream should not (and NEVER should be) your primary ingredient for Carbonara.

Scratch Cream Off Your List, Eggs Should Be In Your Carbonara Recipe

It is easy to make Carbonara at home, as long as you have all the basic ingredients. Basically, all you need to have in your fridge are bacon, cream, and pasta. You may also need Homiesfoto to take better pictures of you while preparing at the kitchen.

Going back to what I have said earlier, you can actually forget about cream in your cooking as long as you have the meat and pasta. Using cream in Carbonara is actually just a strategy adapted by some restaurants over the years to offer a different taste to their customers. Apart from the flavor, cream became more convenient to use that people already forgot the real ingredient that should be present in the Carbonara: eggs.

Yes, that is right, eggs should be included in your Carbonara recipe and not cream. Egg adds that tangy taste in the pasta, and it is the most effective in binding all the flavors of your meat and cheese together in your spaghetti alla Carbonara.

For a brief history, Carbona originated from the mid-nineteenth century in Rome, Italy. At that time, eggs were used to prepare this delicious meal for coal miners, giving them enough strength and energy for their activities. Cream was not used as a sauce extender for the Carbonara.

Read MoreRead More

New Study Refutes Claim that Eating Pasta Can Lead to Obesity and Overweight

Based on the new study performed by the nutrition experts of St Michael’s Hospital,showed findings indicating that those who consume pasta as part of low-carb regimen, tend to lose weight instead. The new study, refuted a claim made by researchers at Deakin University in Melbourne, AU, suggesting that increased intakes of pasta, being carbohydrate-rich foods, can lead to obesity and overweight.

The lead author of the hospital study, Dr. John Sievenpiper, remarked that

”Eating pasta does not necessarily contribute to increased body fat and subsequent weight gain” — “on the contrary, the results of our analysis indicated that eating pasta, if consumed under a low-Glycemic Index regimen, can even lead to a small weight loss.

.

Pasta as a Potential Driver of Weight Loss

Dr Sievenpiper further explained that pasta as a source of carbohydrate has a low-Glycemic Index (GI). This denotes that it tends to increase blood sugar levels at a slower pace when compared to other nutrition sources of refined carbohydrates like bread or rice.

The St. Michael Hospital’s study included observations of individuals who ate around 3.3 servings of pasta every week as regular alternative to carbo-rich foods. The participants were able to maintain a low GI, as well as showed small weight loss.

According to Rhiannon Lambert A top registered nutritionist of a leading private nutrition clinic in London, people have a misconception that they need to cut down on carbs-rich food when attempting to lose weight.

She argues that losing weight is as simple as sticking to a diet tailored to one’s needs. At the same time, they should increase exercise or physical activities that will burn off more calories in amounts that exceed calorie intakes.

Read MoreRead More

Quick, creamy pasta recipes under 30 minutes that doesn’t make use of tomatoes.

When you’re sick and tired of your classic tomato pasta recipe or if tomatoes don’t suit your pallet at all, try out these pasta recipes that are quick, easy and creamy – perfect for busy weekday nights and mornings.

Busy Weekday Breakfast: Avocado Pasta by WhatsUpMoms

On days when you want something healthy and easy to whip in the morning, or on days when you simply do not want to get up your new mattress from the best mattresses 2019, try out this avocado pasta recipe by WhatsUpMoms. All it takes are a few chops and a blend in the blender. It takes about 10-15 minutes of cooking time depending on how fast your pasta cooks. You can also opt to chop your ingredients the night before to make preparation time in the morning easier and faster.

Chill Weekday Dinner: Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta by So Vegan

This are for those weekday nights with a bit of time on your hands. It takes about 30 minutes to cook. This is a simple, healthy, and indulgent dinner recipe that only requires 5 ingredients excluding the pasta. This is a recipe that’s perfect for college students who are on a budget and on a diet.

Busy Weekday Dinner: Soy butter Pasta by Donal Skehan. 

Its ingredients may not sound creamy at first read, but let’s take the chef’s words for it, according to Donal Skehan, “you get all the creaminess and silkiness of Carbonara without even cracking an egg”, give it a try and see what you think. This recipe is perfect for a tough day at work/school with extra homework to boot.  Quick and easy, this recipe only requires 5 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to whip up

Chill Weekends – Chill Weekday Breakfast: Sweet Potato Pasta Recipe by James Strange. 

On weeks when your weekends are relatively free, try out this Sweet potato pasta recipe by James Strange. You can start baking your sweet potatoes in the weekends so that you have your ingredients ready for weekday breakfasts. It takes about 1 hour of preparation for the weekends and 15-20 minutes of cooking time for the weekdays.  

Read MoreRead More