Americans have such a love affair with pasta that you’d think we’d invented it.
In fact, we eat 24% of the world’s pasta consumption. That’s more than any other country!
Unfortunately, as delicious and cheap as pasta is, most of it is not very good for us.
Here's the problem with traditional pasta. (And don't worry, later I'll let you in on some amazing new and healthy pastas to eat instead too!)
Most pasta is made from flour. Though it has a lot of protein, its nutritional benefits are offset by the way it's processed.
When it's milled, its bran and germ are removed, and so are its nutrients.
Pasta is plagued with problems like:
- It contains gluten, which is hard for a lot of people to digest
- It makes a sticky sludge in your gut
- It allows yeast and pathogenic bacteria to grow in your digestive tract
A lot of pasta companies have tried to attract health-conscious people by offering pastas that are made of whole wheat, or even that are made with vegetables. These all still contain wheat, hence gluten and cause the same problems.
Don't let the color of the pasta fool you into thinking you're getting very many actual veggies in there either!
The good news is…
In the last few years, food manufacturers have started making other types of pasta available. These are made with different ingredients that are nutritious and don’t cause the harm that wheat pasta does.
Here are 6 of my favorites:
1. Konjaku Noodles
These are made from a Japanese tuber called a Konnyaku Imo. They're high in fiber and are gluten free. They also encourage the growth of healthy microflora in the gut.
Konjaku Noodles are delicious when tossed with roasted or steamed vegetables.
2. Brown Rice Pasta
These gluten-free noodles are made from ground brown rice. They contain 4 grams of protein per 2-ounce portion, and it is high in insoluble fiber.
3. Quinoa Pasta
Quinoa has long been one of our favorite superfoods, and now it comes in the form of pasta. It is made by grinding the seeds down into flour. This pasta is high in protein and rich in iron and magnesium. It contains no gluten.
Make sure that your quinoa pasta is made without any other ingredient, as a lot of manufacturers are mixing the quinoa flour with rice or corn.
Tweet4. Sprouted Grain Pasta
This is made from grains that have been allowed to germinate and grow a little green shoot. Pastas made with these grains are very high in B vitamins, as well as protein and fiber. They also are lower in carbohydrates.
5. Chickpea Pasta
Chickpea pasta has four times the fiber, double the protein and half the carbs that wheat pasta does. It is gluten free and low on the glycemic index. Best of all, its taste and texture are very similar to wheat flour.
6. Lentil Pasta
This pasta has a deeper flavor than other alternative pastas. It is high in fiber and protein.
Though these pasta varieties can all be used to make your favorite pasta dishes, you may find that they have slightly different preparation times, and that some taste better to you than others.
If you're a pasta lover these pastas allow you to have your pasta fix without wrecking your health and your waistline. Try them all to find the one you like best.
Yours in health,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with your friends and family who love pasta and I welcome your comments below.
