Why Eating Pasta Should Be Guilt Free
Pasta…your worst enemy, right?
Wrong!
Pasta has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. What with weight loss and diet fads like Gluten Free, Paleo, Whole 30, any many more, we are convinced that to eat healthy we have to eliminate any or all carbohydrates from our diet…including pasta! But contrary to popular belief, cutting out carbs can actually do more harm than good for many people. That’s because they provide energy along with valuable vitamins and minerals.
So stop feeling guilty about indulging in your favorite pasta! Especially if you choose it from the huge selection of tasty dishes we have here at Sam & Louie’s. Below are a few reasons that you can (and should!) eat pasta and other carbs without the added guilt you may often feel.
1. It’s Recommended
According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, grains should make up more than ¼ of your plate. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming 45% to 65% of your total calories from these kinds of nutrients. Both of these sources have confirmed that carbohydrates are an important aspect of your body’s nourishment and are essential to eating healthy.
2. Brain Function
Your brain needs daily carbohydrates to function properly. In fact, our brains use about 20% of our daily energy and are responsible for many activities crucial to survival and living. Our brain needs roughly 110-145 grams of glucose (from the breakdown of carbs you eat) per day in order to function optimally.
3. It Makes You Happy
We don’t call carbs comfort food for nothing! They have the ability to do us some good when we need extra cheering up. Carbohydrates produce the hormone serotonin, which balances and boosts your emotions.
4. Quick Energy
Carbs are able to give both quick boosts of energy and lasting energy throughout the day. If you need something to give you a boost fast when you’re feeling the slump, simple or refined carbs are able to be processed quickly and will give an immediate spike in energy.
5. Lasting Energy
Unlike refined carbs, complex carbs like pasta or whole grains are broken down slowly in the body and provide steady energy throughout the entire day. Having a breakfast or lunch that has complex carbs will help keep you from losing energy early on.
6. No Additives
There are many additives to packaged food that are unhealthy for us to consume. But luckily you don’t have to worry about that with pasta because it contains no additional fat or sugar. Simple and easy ingredients are included in this dish—your rarely have to guess what they are.
So the next time you are feeling guilty about eating pasta or other carbs, think again! Relax and enjoy that bowl of spaghetti. Bon appétit!
