1. Is Pasta Good For Your Health?
Pasta is popular for a reason: It's versatile, inexpensive, great-tasting, and comforting. Unfortunately, the comfort we
get from pasta comes from its high carbohydrate count.
As any dieter will tell you, carbohydrates, especially those that come from white flour products like pasta, aren't exactly
diet-friendly. They tend to have a high calorie content, and can raise blood sugar levels and cause bloating.
When blood sugar goes up too high, the body produces insulin, which drives the glucose back down. This causes hunger,
even shortly after a carb-laden meal. The bars also cause water retention, leading to uncomfortable bloating.
But pasta-based recipes are great for feeding a family on a budget, and pasta is just plain good. How can you take
advantage of its benefits without the guilt?
Add Fat and Protein
Yes, actually eating some heart-healthy fat and lean protein with your pasta is healthier than eating the pasta by itself.
That's because our bodies digest pasta very quickly, leading to a glucose spike and subsequent crash.
But when you mix fat and protein with the carbs, your body will take much longer to digest the food. This helps keep
your glucose level stable, and keeps you satisfied for a longer period of time.
You can add fat and protein by using lean sirloin, chopped mushrooms, boiled shrimp, or ground turkey in your pasta
sauce. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil onto the entree, and you've got a guilt-free recipe that will keep you happy and
healthy.
Apache Bread Cornmeal Rolls
Ingredients:
1 cup white corn meal
1 cup yellow corn meal
1 teaspoon salt
1`/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup boiling water
½ cup bacon drippingsGreen cornhusks
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, blend together the white and yellow corn meal, the salt,
and the red pepper flakes.
2. Add the boiling water and bacon drippings and stir well.
3. Form the dough into rolls and wrap in the green cornhusks. Place on a wire rack in the oven and bake for 1 hour.
For some, it might not be feasible to eat pasta on a regular basis. Some of us have trouble controlling our appetites once
we start eating pasta. Diabetics and insulin-resistant individuals can have strong cravings for carb-laden foods. Pasta is
also a common trigger food for binge eaters. Visit Gourmandia at gourmandia.ca to learn more and watch healthy video
recipes.