Guilty Pasta

Good news... Don't stop eating pasta!

Pasta, like most all carbohydrates, has gotten a pretty bad rap over these past few years.  With all of the dieting trends, it's hard to keep up, but for some reason the "anti-carb" craze has really taken our society by storm.  People will stuff there faces with burgers and cheese, but pass on the Italian classic.  So what gives?? 

Although removing carbohydrates from the diet can contribute to weight loss, it should only be done for a short period of time, and does not mean that you should cram everything else you can get your hands on down your throat.  Don't forget, our bodies get most of our energy from carbohydrates, and we need them to function properly.  But there is a HUGE difference between good and bad carbs.  So how do you tell the difference??

Sticking to whole grains, such as barley, millet, brown rice and quinoa, is a smart way to consume carbohydrates.  These grains are broken down slowly in the body, and therefore don't have an effect on our blood sugar.  They also take longer to digest, which leaves us feeling full for a longer period of time.  Fantastic, right??  White, processed foods, such as most store-bought breads, white flour products, and all other "pulverized grains" are broken down and digested extremely quickly, causing a spike in our blood sugar, which increases insulin production, and then causes the body to crash.

*The Scientific Side: You might of heard of the term "GI" which stands for glycemic index.  A foods glycemic index number is dependent on how quickly the starch in a food is converted into sugar.  A food that is processed quickly through the body has a high glycemic index, and has a considerable affect on blood-glucose levels(these being the white, processed foods).  Because the whole grains are broken down slowly, they have a low GI, and cause little to no fluctuation to the blood-glucose.  Low GI foods are ideal.

Most people would include pasta in the "high GI" group.  However, when cooked al dente, white pasta acts as a low GI food, is digested slowly, and is a healthy option for a carbohydrate.  Dr. Andrew Weil suggests 2-3 servings per week, with each serving being equal to 1/2cup cooked.  Choosing organic is always a better alternative.

So enjoy your pasta, and lose the guilt!!