Pasta Consumption Improves Overall Quality of Diet

Pasta consumption improves diet quality and nutrient intakes in both children and adults, according to a new study.

Highlights:

Pasta consumption improves overall diet quality in adults and children
Pasta consumption increases intake of nutrients and reduces intake of saturated fats in adults and children
Pasta consumption lowers body weight in adult women

Pasta consumption in adults and children is linked to a better diet quality and better nutrient intakes than people who don’t consume pasta.

The research results were published in Frontiers in Nutrition .

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‘Consumption of pasta is associated with greater nutrient intakes and improved diet quality in children and adults. It also has beneficial weight-related outcomes only in adult females.’

Study Details
The research was conducted by Nutritional Strategies, on behalf of the National Pasta Association.

The study examined the following association between pasta and non-pasta consumers in children (2-18 years) and adults (>19 years):

Pasta consumption
Shortfall nutrient intakes defined by the 2015 Dietary Guidelines (2015 DG)
Diet quality

Pasta consumption was defined as all the dry domestic and imported pasta or noodle varieties made with only wheat and not egg.

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Study Findings

A number of positive nutritional dietary patterns were found in people who eat pasta when compared with people who don’t eat pasta.

Improved overall diet quality – measured by USDA’s Health Eating Index- 2010 scale
Higher intake of key shortfall nutrients in adults and children
- In adults – folate, iron, magnesium, dietary fiber
- In children – folate, iron, magnesium, dietary fiber, vitamin E
Reduced daily intakes of saturated fat and added sugars in adults, saturated fat and total fat in children
No difference in total daily calories and sodium intake
Adult males and children had no significant associations with body weight, waist circumference and body mass index
Pasta eating was associated with lower body weight and waist circumference in adult women (19-50 years)

In summary, pasta is a convenient and nutritious meal for both children and adults. It is an easy to prepare meal that pleases even the pickiest of eaters.

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National Nutrition Week is observed worldwide from 1st – 7th September to raise awareness and educate the general public about the importance of proper diet and nutrition to maintain overall health and well being.

"Pasta can be an effective building block for good nutrition throughout the life cycle, as it serves as a perfect delivery system for fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and legumes," says dietitian Diane Welland.

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Source-Medindia