Pasta Won't Make You Obese Or Overweight, As Long As You Eat Like An Italian

Good news for pasta lovers. Italian scientists said eating noodles would not make you fat or obese. Rather, eating pasta in moderation can lower your body mass index.

The study published in the journal Nurition and Diabetes analyzed the eating habits of more than 23,000 Italians. The researchers from the Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed I.R.C.C.S. found that eating pasta helps people achieve a healthy body mass index, or BMI. They also have smaller waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio when they consume pasta according to their individual needs.

But what is "according to individual needs?" According to NJ.com, just because pasta is probably good for your health doesn't mean that you should consume it irresponsibly.

Enjoy Pasta, But In Moderation

The study's Italian participants were given small picture booklets that will enable them to demonstrate the pasta portion size they consume on a regular basis. The largest portion selection amounted to 86 grams, or over three ounces (less than a quarter of the standard package of pasta).

Basically, Italians consider 86 grams or three ounces as an already large serving of pasta. If you eat more than that, there is a possibility that you will be overweight or obese and not achieve the same lower BMI enjoyed by Italians.

Pasta Consumption Correlated To Mediterranean Diet

Pasta is a common part of the Mediterranean diet, which adheres to meals rich in beans, fish, nuts, olive oil, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Dr. Gunter Kuhnle, an associate professor in nutrition and health at the University of Reading, England, pointed out that the participants of the study also followed the Mediterranean diet, The Telegraph reported.

The Mediterranean diet's principle is moderate consumption and adhering to all its food elements. If you eat, for instance, a moderate serving of pesto pasta with green beans, it's still a healthy meal.

Experts are lauding the Mediterranean diet for its lifelong benefits to people's health. According to a separate report from The Telegraph, the diet could help preserve brain cells and prevent a variety of illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, skin cancer or melanoma, dementia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. Mediterranean diet is also believed to prolong life and is a more effective meal plan than calorie counting.

Mediterranean countries know the health benefits of eating pasta long before the modern world's fight against obesity and diabetes, UPI reported. According to nutritionists, pasta will only become a problem to a person's health if it's consumed excessively or if it's laden with overly salty, sugary and fatty sauces and toppings.