Recent research suggests that pasta could help you lose weight if it is eaten within the right dietary context. U.S. researchers found that the surprising weight loss effect of pasta happens when the dish is paired with a low-glycemic index (GI) diet.
A study published Apr. 3 in BMJ Open found that pasta can be good for the waistline if is eaten as part of a low GI diet. Low GI foods, which include pasta, contain carbohydrates that are turned into sugar and released into the bloodstream much slower than added sugar and refined carbohydrates are.
Low GI foods prevent spikes in blood sugar levels, food cravings, and hunger just a few hours after they were consumed.
In their study, researchers sifted through 29 studies that included 2,500 participants. All those people consumed pasta one way or the other. In around 12 weeks, the group that consumed pasta while on a low GI diet lost 1.1 pounds on average when compared to the participants that consumed higher GI carbohydrates.
Pasta Should Be Eaten in Moderation
However, researchers warn that their findings are not an open invitation to abuse pasta. Study participants who lost weight didn’t gorge on the food either. In fact, they ate pasta just 3.3 times per week on average.
- Study authors insisted that pasta can promote weight loss only if it is paired with a low-glycemic index diet.
- It remains unclear whether pasta is as beneficial for the waistline in the context of a vegetarian diet or Mediterranean diet.
Scientists also noted the weight-loss effect of pasta was small and likely short-lived. It remains unclear whether all study participants managed to keep the extra pounds off in the long run.
Independent experts have confirmed that pasta can help you lose weight if it is portioned right and is paired with lean meat and vegetables.
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