Green, White And Red-Colors Of The Italian Flag

Pasta has come a long way to reach the healthier highway of better eats. Not just your fathers’ white semolina anymore, food technology has given this complex carbohydrate a nutty, sweet and chewy texture.

Look For This Stamp For True Whole Grain

Whole wheat pasta is beneficial over white pasta for 14 reasons. They are fiber, B1, B2, B3, B6, folic acid, vitamin E, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc and a lower glycemic index. The higher the glycemic index number the faster your sugar levels increase in your blood. So a lower number is a good thing. Also, eating whole grains lower the chances of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. You are also able to better maintain your weight.

Whole Grain Is Very Sexy

When the food processor produces white pasta, the germ and the bran are both removed from the grain. What is left is the inner most part (endosperm) with much lower nutrient levels. This is done because white flour products have a longer shelf life.  Manufacturers then add back B1, B2, B3, folic acid (another B vitamin) and iron; that is called fortification. So they rape the grain, then spray 5 of the 13 nutrients back into the product in amounts usually higher than what nature originally adapted for this grain.

Pretty Golden White Wheat

There is also a whole grain white wheat available on the market. It’s actually an albino wheat grain that has not been genetically modified. It is very similar in nutrient content to the whole grain whole wheat. The taste is a little sweeter. There is difference in regard to the polyphenols (antioxidants) in the white which are less than the amount in the whole grain whole wheat.

Best Whole Grain Pasta Products:

365 Everyday Value (organic whole wheat) at Whole Foods-excellent taste

Trader Joe’s Organic Whole Wheat-excellent taste

Barilla Whole Grain

De Cecco Whole Wheat

Market Pantry Whole Wheat at Target

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Grain

Pasta Tips:

1. Serve the pasta al dente for best taste.

2. Cook pasta, drain and keep separate from sauce till right before serving.

3. Sauté 2-3 different vegetables and add to the pasta or have as a side dish.

4. Level up the taste with shaving some pecorino romano cheese and ground cracked pepper on top.

5. Can also add red pepper flakes and fresh torn basil to kick it up.

Rare Boat Tie Pasta

Categories: Health

Tags: albino wheat, fiber, white pasta, white wheat wholegrain pasta, whole wheat pasta