Make your pasta less fattening and healthy by reheating it

By: Editorial Team | | Published: October 20, 2014 11:26 am

Love pasta but hate to add those extra kilos around your waist? Cool it down and reheat it again. By doing so, it will change the structure of the pasta into resistant starch which means less fat, says a new study. ‘Once starchy foods such as pasta and potatoes are cooked and cooled, they become resistant to the normal enzymes in the gut that break carbohydrates down and release glucose,’ said Chris van Tulleken who conducted the experiment on the BBC show ‘Trust Me, I’m A Doctor’. (Read: Lose weight with pasta!) Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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Doctors fed freshly cooked and reheated pasta separately to volunteers. They then took blood samples every 15 minutes for two hours to compare the effects. The reheated pasta was found to be healthier. ‘This was a brand new discovery and could simply and easily improve health,’ he was quoted as saying on the show. (Read: Keep BP under control with high fibre pasta) Also Read - 7 reasons why the #BeefBan is good

6 reasons why pasta is good for health

Pasta may have its roots in Italy but it is a much loved dish even in India. Several restaurants offer it these days and you can find many authentic Italian joints serving some of the finest pastas. A staple of many European countries, pasta is slowly making its way into Indian kitchens as well. If made properly, it is a filling and nourishing meal. It is also quite easy to make. The good thing is, you can experiment by adding several ingredients and desi flavours to make it nutritious and scrumptious. Don t believe us? Read some of its health benefits.

It isn t fattening: The truth is, pasta is a combined version of our Indian roti-sabzi. Instead of having it separately, you mix everything together to create one wholesome dish. Like any other meal, you can make it healthy or calorie-heavy depending on the ingredients you use. Choose red sauce instead of white, add lots of veggies and little white meat, keep the cheese to a minimum and the fresher the ingredients, the better. Opt for whole wheat pasta and make sure you don t over or under cook it. You can have a salad on the side to complete your meal.

One pot meal: One can add meat, both fresh and processed, a wide range of vegetables and herbs, lentils, nuts and cheese to pasta. It means that a bowl of pasta is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals making it a wholesome meal.

High in fibre: Pasta can be made a high-fibre dish by making a few additions. To make a high-fibre pasta dish, choose from a huge range of multigrain and whole wheat variety available in the market. Add chopped, mixed vegetables or their purees. You can also try your hand at stuffed pasta or cannelloni filling it with spinach and adding meat of your choice. The more veggies you add, the healthier it becomes. Read to know more health benefits of pasta

With inputs from IANS

Image Source: Getty images

Published : October 20, 2014 11:26 am

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