Scientists explain when pasta helps to lose weight

News24xx.com - Recently, pasta lovers have a real reason for joy: many headlines have argued that this product helps to lose weight. True, there is a small, but very important nuance. Pasta can help lose weight, but only within a certain diet.

Various media referred to an analysis published in the journal “BMJ Open». The authors found that eating pasta is not associated with weight gain, if you eat them during the low glycemic index diet. This is a relative indicator of the effect of carbohydrates in foods on changes in blood glucose levels. Products with low GI are slower absorbed and ultimately cause a smaller and slower rise in blood sugar levels, and consequently, insulin levels.

Pasta also has a lower glycemic index compared to refined cereal products (with white bread, for example).

The authors of a recent paper analyzed data from 29 studies: the information included data on 2500 participants who consumed pasta as part of a diet at a low glycemic level, or received carbohydrates from other sources with a higher glycemic index.

12 weeks later, people from the pasta group, on average, lost about half a kilogram compared to those who ate other carbohydrates. As part of the diet, they were allowed to pamper themselves with three servings of pasta per week (one serving was equal to half a cup of cooked pasta).

It isn’t known whether the same results will be obtained with other models of healthy food, for example, Mediterranean or vegetarian diets. Also, scientists say that the number of lost kilograms was still quite small, and the period for the preservation of such results hasn’t been established.

Some nutritionists were not at all surprised by the results of the study. Although pasta and other carbohydrates have a rather “bad reputation”, these products can still appear on the table in humans. It is important for people to remember with what it is worth combining this product. It is necessary to take into account the glycemic index and the number of calories of other foods that they use with pasta, nutritionists say.

The results emphasize an important detail: a person doesn’t have to give up his favorite products in order to maintain a healthy weight, it is important only to respect the measure.