Is Pasta Bad For You?
Also Known As: noodles, spaghetti, fettuccini, linguine, rigatoni, etc.
Short answer
In short, if you eat whole grain pasta, you are doing your body a favor. If you eat white pasta, on the other hand, the exact opposite can be said.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Like so many other things, saying whether or not pasta is good for you is not a straightforward answer. It depends entirely on which type of pasta you use. White pasta, which is pasta made from wheat flour and then refined so that everything but the endosperm of the grain kernel is stripped away, is devoid of much of its original nutrients and full of simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are digested rapidly, causing a feeling of hunger (which leads to overeating) and a sharp spike in blood sugar levels. This rapid elevation of blood sugar can lead to dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. In extreme cases, it can also lead to coma or death. Also, due to the refining process, white flour contains about 25% less protein than whole grain pasta and only 9% dietary fiber (compared to 23% for its whole grain counterpart).
Whole grain pasta, in comparison, keeps the three important parts of the grain kernel - bran, germ, and endosperm. Apart from having nearly a quarter of the daily amount needed for protein and fiber, whole grain pasta also has less calories. The high fiber content in whole grain pasta keeps the body regular and helps remove cholesterol from the body, which in turn protects the body from cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
In the USA, both white pasta and whole grain wheat pasta have B-complex vitamins. The difference is that while whole grain pasta contains them naturally, in white pasta they have been added in, as the refining process takes away the vitamins and minerals that had been in the grain to start with.
All in all, if you want to eat pasta, whole grain is the way to go. White pasta may have a longer shelf life and more familiar texture and taste, but whole grain is much better for you. Of course, anyone with wheat allergies should look for pasta not made with wheat flour.
Possible short-term side effects
- white pasta can cause:
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headache
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nausea
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blood sugar spike
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a feeling of hunger
Possible long-term side effects
- white pasta can cause:
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diabetes
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cardiovascular disease
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weight gain
Ingredients to be aware of
- simple carbohydrates
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excess calories
Benefits
- whole grain pasta:
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high in fiber
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high in protein
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keeps body regular
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lowers cholesterol
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protects against diabetes
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protects cardiovascular disease
Healthier alternatives
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