Pasta is a staple cuisine in countless homes worldwide, whether you eat rotini regularly or prefer penne. On the other hand, pasta is excellent for more than just your taste buds; research suggests that eating pasta daily may be beneficial to your health as well.
People who eat pasta daily are more likely to eat a nutrient-dense diet, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition in 2020.
Researchers found that those who ate pasta daily consumed more fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin E than those who avoided starchy food. Fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E were higher in pasta-eating children than in non-pasta-eating children.
The study's authors discovered that persons who ate pasta had lower levels of saturated fat and added sugar in their diet than those who did not. Children who ate pasta had lower levels of saturated fat but similar levels of sugar and sodium as their classmates who did not eat pasta.
While many people avoid carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta when attempting to lose weight, the researchers discovered that neither adults nor children who ate pasta ingested significantly more calories than those who didn't.
This isn't the first study to indicate that pasta is a relatively weight-neutral food for most people. Pasta is not connected with increased weight, according to a 2018 study published in the journal BMJ Open, which looked at the dietary habits and weight of 2448 people. It "even reduces body weight and BMI compared to higher-GI dietary patterns."
So, if you're in the mood for some spaghetti Bolognese or cacao e Pepe, go ahead and indulge—your body might thank you.