Ever since the rise of celebrity endorsed low carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, pasta has been getting a bad name. Whole grain foods such as pasta, is a recommended by the Food pyramid to be consumed 6-11 times daily. Pasta is a good source of energy, the carbohydrate can give an individual a constant slow release of energy, as opposed to a sharp jump in energy like other foods. This is why athletes and especially runners, whose activites require a long constant source of energy, consume pasta 5 times weekly. Pasta has been appearing as an unhealthy food, yet a half a cup merely contains 100 calories and less than five milligrams of salt. Pasta gets its bad rep as an unhealthy meal when it is doused in fat enriched cream sauces such as alfredo and blanketed by a sheet of cheese.
When pasta is accompanied with a tomato or olive oil based sauce and a lean protein such as chicken or fish it can be a healthy meal that can provide a person with energy for a long day. Furthermore, pasta has a low Glycemic index. The Glycemic index ranks carbohydrates on how quickly they affect someone's blood sugar, the slower the healthier, as in pasta. Another benefit of pasta is its fortification of folic acid, an important B vitamin. A small 2 oz serving of pasta is equal to 25% of the daily-recommended intake for folic acid. Due to its nutritional benefits pasta is healthy and should be consumed about twice a week. There is nothing to fear from the food trusted by the Italians for centuries, just remember to skip the Parmesan.
Chainey, Ross. "In Defense of Pasta." Life and Style. 2008. MSN UK. 6/1/08.
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