Oh pasta, how we love thee. But if you ever feel guilty about eating it, you really shouldn't say experts. A new consensus reached by health experts has us all smiling about spaghetti, penne and ravioli!
Just this week, an international committee of scientists and food authorities released a statement concluding that eating pasta does not contribute to obesity, and shouldn't be frowned upon. In fact, they note, pasta eaters tend to be healthier--often eating greater quantities of vegetables and legumes than those who abstain from pasta.
This all comes from The Scientific Consensus Conference on the Healthy Pasta Meal, a two-day conference organized by the non-profit organization Oldways last month.
The conference featured scientists from 13 countries exchanging information about their latest research on carbohydrates, nutrition, health, and pasta. This research was summarized in the Consensus Statement in a form that can be used by doctors, health professionals, dietitians, scientists, media, the food industry, and consumers. This statement serves as an important expansion and update of an earlier Pasta Consensus Statement developed with scientists from six countries and released at an Oldways Conference in Rome in 2004.
"...The scientists noted that pasta meals are affordable and are an important way to eat more vegetables, legumes and other healthy ingredients that are typically underconsumed in cultures around the world," said Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of Oldways.
This jives with my feelings on pasta, too. Pasta is a great vehicle for vegetables! Just get the most from your noodles by making sure they're whole grain.
Are you a pasta lover? How does it fit into a healthy diet for you?