Eat pasta and lose weight - Italian Mediterranean diet

Noodles made from wholemeal flour are suitable for weight loss . If her glycemic index is below 50, it will not raise the amount of sugar in the blood, and the pancreas will not release much insulin. Therefore, excess glucose will not turn into fat.

Features of eating pasta:

  • Only products from durum varieties are suitable. This is usually indicated right on the package.
  • Do not mix with cheese, store-bought tomato sauce, or mayonnaise.
  • They eat noodles only with vegetables or sauces made from them.
  • You can't overeat.
  • Moderate consumption of noodles helps control hunger; they are classified as slow carbohydrates.
  • Noodles improve digestion, strengthen the body's protective functions and improve intestinal motility. The result is weight loss and an even complexion.
  • They promote the production of serotonin, the hormone of happiness, which means it has greater resistance to stress and depression.

During the noodle diet, it is necessary to include fruits and vegetables, vegetable oil, especially from olives and flaxseeds, and seafood. White bread, sweets, pastries, alcoholic beverages, store-bought sauces and mayonnaise, sausages, canned food, and marinades should be excluded.

Buckwheat noodles come from Japanese cooking. It is prepared from buckwheat flour, mixing in a little rice flour. Noodles cut into thin strips are stored in a fabric bag. If you purchase the product in a store, then among the ingredients there should be nothing but water and flour. It is useful because there are no fats, but there is a lot of fiber, slow carbohydrates, proteins, it contains enough iron, B vitamins. The dish is very quick to prepare.

The benefits of buckwheat noodles include the following properties:

  • Due to the lack of fat, it is good to use for those who want to build muscle mass and have problems with high blood pressure.
  • Buckwheat contains a lot of rutin, that is, a special antioxidant that cleanses blood vessels, speeds up metabolic processes and recovery after physical activity. It is needed for hematopoiesis by those who suffer from iron deficiency anemia and low hemoglobin.
  • B1 plays an important role, which is necessary for metabolism and helps normalize the nervous system after stress. Thanks to it, problems with insomnia and sleep disorders go away. Useful for strengthening blood vessels and heart muscle.

The calorie content of a buckwheat noodle dish is no more than 140 kcal.

Rice noodles came from Asia. It has an average calorie content, contains complex carbohydrates and many vitamins. Noodles make you feel full for a long time, although you shouldn’t overeat them. 100 g of products contain more than 120 kcal , mostly carbohydrates, some protein, no fat.

There are two types of rice noodles - traditional and funchose. The latter differs only in very fine cutting. The benefits of rice noodles for weight loss include the following qualities :

  • Due to the absence of fat, it can be eaten by people suffering from high blood pressure, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and liver.
  • In combination with beans, it saturates the body with beneficial amino acids.
  • Contains complex carbohydrates. A person needs to consume 4 g of carbohydrates per 1 kg for normal life. Including it in your diet helps jump-start your metabolism.
  • The product contains vitamin PP, which is beneficial for nerve cells.
  • Selenium helps speed up metabolism and improve brain function.
  • B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle.
  • Iron helps prevent anemia.
  • Thanks to the presence of potassium and sodium, the water-salt balance is normalized. Swelling goes away.
  • It contains a lot of magnesium, which strengthens the nervous system.
  • Rice has adsorbent properties, so it removes waste and toxins.
  • Eating noodles has a positive effect on digestion and intestinal motility.

However, due to the high glycemic index, the product should not be consumed by people with high sugar levels and diabetes . It is also important to monitor the amount, as it provokes appetite. It's easy to overeat. It's good to complement rice noodles with seafood.


Rice noodles

Chinese noodles are prepared with mung bean starch. Does not have a pronounced taste. And after boiling it becomes transparent. After cooking, the dish has a calorie content of no more than 80 kcal per 100g . Therefore, Chinese noodles are great for weight loss .

Its advantages are as follows:

  • The product is rich in iron, selenium, manganese, potassium, zinc, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium. This has a beneficial effect on the nervous and digestive systems.
  • It contains tocopherol or vitamin E, aneurin, folic and nicotinic acids, riboflavin, and pyrodoxin.
  • Chinese noodles contain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

But at the same time, this type has practically no fiber, protein and amino acids. The glycemic index is less than 50 , so the product is suitable for diabetes and allergies.

Homemade is made from flour, eggs and salt. Therefore it contains a sufficient amount of protein. During a diet, you need to consume such noodles in extremely measured doses due to the following disadvantages:

  • The calorie content of the dish is about 300 kcal per 100 g of product.
  • Wheat flour is a fast carbohydrate that causes a sharp jump in blood sugar and greatly increases appetite. Therefore, it is very difficult to stop on time.
  • Homemade may be an allergen due to eggs and gluten.


Homemade noodles
Instant noodles include “Rollton” and “Doshirak”. Simply pour boiling water over it and wait 10-15 minutes. The noodles are ready. The end result is a satisfying and tasty dish. But the benefits of instant noodles for weight loss are missing. It contains flavor enhancers and dyes.

Regular consumption of such a dish not only does not contribute to weight loss, but also negatively affects human health . Moreover, the calorie content of noodles is more than 440 kcal.

Udon is a noodle dish that is very popular in Japan. It is prepared from wheat flour, which should contain a lot of starch. This is a very high-calorie dish. 100 g of product contains 300 kcal . Therefore, udon noodles are not suitable for weight loss.

Read more in our article about noodles for weight loss.

How are egg noodles different from regular noodles?

Egg noodles are different


egg
in the product .
Moreover, only the whites or yolks of chicken eggs can be used in production. The final color of the pasta depends on this. Egg noodles
contain more nutrients than wheat noodles.

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Which one is better to choose?

In addition to coarse wheat noodles, there are other types. All have their advantages and disadvantages. Not everyone is suitable for losing weight. A person in a store may encounter the following species.

Buckwheat

These noodles come from Japanese cooking. It is prepared from buckwheat flour, mixing in a little rice flour. Noodles cut into thin strips are stored in a fabric bag. If you purchase the product in a store, then among the ingredients there should be nothing but water and flour.

Buckwheat noodles are useful for weight loss because they contain no fat, but they contain a lot of fiber, slow carbohydrates, and proteins. In addition, it contains enough iron and B vitamins. Another advantage is that such a dish is very quick to prepare. And this is important when losing weight, when there is no time to make complicated recipes.


Buckwheat noodles

The benefits of buckwheat noodles include the following properties:

  • Due to the lack of fat, it is good to use for those who want to build muscle mass and have problems with high blood pressure.
  • Buckwheat contains a lot of rutin, that is, a special antioxidant that cleanses blood vessels, speeds up metabolic processes and recovery after physical activity. In addition, it is needed for hematopoiesis and for those who suffer from iron deficiency anemia and low hemoglobin.
  • B1 plays an important role, which is necessary for metabolism and helps normalize the nervous system after stress. Thanks to it, problems with insomnia and sleep disorders go away. It is useful for strengthening blood vessels and heart muscle.

The calorie content of a buckwheat noodle dish is no more than 140 kcal.

Rice

This species also came from Asia. It has an average calorie content, contains complex carbohydrates and many vitamins. Noodles make you feel full for a long time. Although you shouldn't overeat it. 100 g of products contain more than 120 kcal, and these are mainly carbohydrates, some protein, and no fat.

Rice noodles come in two types: traditional and funchose. The latter differs only in very fine cutting. The benefits of rice noodles for weight loss include the following qualities:

  • Due to the absence of fat, it can be eaten by people suffering from high blood pressure, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and liver.
  • In combination with beans, it saturates the body with beneficial amino acids.
  • Contains complex carbohydrates. They nourish the brain and prevent it from starving. A person needs to consume 4 g of carbohydrates per 1 kg for normal life. Including it in your diet helps jump-start your metabolism.
  • The product contains vitamin PP, which is beneficial for nerve cells.
  • Selenium helps speed up metabolism and improve brain function.
  • B vitamins have a beneficial effect on the heart muscle.
  • Iron helps prevent anemia.
  • Thanks to the presence of potassium and sodium, the water-salt balance is normalized. Swelling goes away.
  • It contains a lot of magnesium, which strengthens the nervous system.
  • Rice has adsorbent properties, so it removes waste and toxins.
  • Eating noodles has a positive effect on digestion and intestinal motility.


Funchoza
However, due to the high glycemic index, the product should not be consumed by people with high sugar levels and diabetes. It is also important to monitor the amount, as it provokes appetite. It's easy to overeat. It's good to complement rice noodles with seafood.

Chinese

This type is prepared using mung bean starch. The noodles have no distinct taste. And after boiling it becomes transparent. Initially, it consists of long “threads” of different diameters. After cooking, the dish has a calorie content of no more than 80 kcal per 100g. Therefore, Chinese noodles are great for weight loss.

Its advantages are as follows:

  • The product is rich in iron, selenium, manganese, potassium, zinc, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium. This has a beneficial effect on the nervous and digestive systems.
  • It contains tocopherol or vitamin E, aneurin, folic and nicotinic acids, riboflavin, and pyrodoxin.
  • Chinese noodles contain polyunsaturated fatty acids.


Chinese noodles
But at the same time, this type has practically no fiber, protein and amino acids. The glycemic index is less than 50, so the product is suitable for diabetes and allergies. Noodles are suitable for a diet for weight loss.

Including Chinese in the diet helps normalize digestion and remove toxins and waste from the body. All this is reflected in improving the quality of skin and hair.

Home

Egg noodles are usually prepared at home. It is made from flour, eggs and salt. Therefore, such noodles, unlike other types, contain a sufficient amount of protein. But, nevertheless, during a diet you need to consume such noodles in extremely measured doses due to the following disadvantages:

  • The calorie content of the dish is about 300 kcal per 100 g of product.
  • Wheat flour is a fast carbohydrate that causes a sharp jump in blood sugar and only further increases appetite. Therefore, it is very difficult to stop on time.
  • Homemade may be an allergen due to eggs and gluten.

Thus, this species is not entirely suitable for dietary nutrition. You should eat homemade noodles no more than a couple times a week.


Making homemade noodles

Instant cooking

Instant noodles include “Rollton” and “Doshirak”. Simply pour boiling water over it and wait 10-15 minutes. The noodles are ready. The end result is a satisfying and tasty dish. But the benefits of instant noodles for weight loss are missing. It contains flavor enhancers and dyes. Noodles are made from wheat flour, which contains a lot of fast carbohydrates. It quickly increases glucose levels and insulin release. Thus, unprocessed energy is stored in reserve.

Contains palm oil. But, despite the benefits of the product in its purified form, it ends up in such a dish of the lowest quality. It is palm oil that can provoke weight gain.

Instant noodles also contain many other preservatives, stabilizers, and flavorings that can be toxic.

Regular consumption of such a dish not only does not contribute to weight loss, but also negatively affects human health. Moreover, the calorie content of noodles is more than 440 kcal.

Udon

Noodles are very popular in Japan. It is eaten as often as rice. Noodles are prepared from wheat flour, which should contain a lot of starch. This is a very high-calorie dish. 100 g of product contains 300 kcal. Therefore, udon noodles are not suitable for weight loss.

It is quickly digested and stimulates appetite. Nevertheless, noodles contain many vitamins, macro and microelements. Therefore, it can still benefit the human body.


Udon noodles

You can eat the udon noodle dish either hot or cold. It is served in broth, as well as with seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, ginger, and soy sauce.

Shirataki

The noodles are made from the konnyaku root vegetable. It is processed into flour, from which the dish is already prepared. The main benefit of shirataki is that it contains a lot of fiber. It literally sweeps away all toxins from the body.

These noodles are great for your diet. Its glycemic index is zero. In total it contains 9 kcal per 100 product. But at the same time, it does not contain vitamins and nutrients. Therefore, the dish will have to be supplemented with vegetables, mushrooms, and seafood.

Expert opinion

Yulia Mikhailova

Nutrition expert

It is worth understanding the important point that the calorie content of the noodles itself is almost zero. This is why people easily overdo it with supplements. The result is a very high-calorie dish. The additive (for example, meat, seafood) to the noodles must be chosen carefully and in doses.

Shirataki is sold in two forms: dry and pickled. In the latter case, the liquid needs to be drained and washed, because it is simply a preservative for storing the product. Marinated shirataki should be cooked like regular shirataki.


Shirataki noodles

Calorie table for pasta

To correctly create a diet for weight loss and not go overboard with your daily calorie intake, refer to this table. Don’t forget that most items are dry pasta and when cooked, their calorie content is almost halved.

Are you planning to lose weight in the near future? Believe me: this is not a reason to give up your favorite pasta. If you choose the right pasta and prepare it correctly, it will not cause you to gain excess weight, but will help you lose it.

Useful tips for use

In order for eating pasta to be beneficial for weight loss, you should follow these simple rules:

  • You need to choose a product made from wholemeal flour, rich in fiber and slow carbohydrates.
  • Even the lowest-calorie noodles do not need to add too nutritious and satisfying sauces, otherwise everything will be useless.
  • You need to cook without getting ready. It should have a slightly hard center. So its glycemic index will be significantly lower.
  • The serving should be the size of your fist.
  • You need to eat slowly, wrapping a couple of pieces on your fork. Only by prolonging the pleasure can you increase saturation with a small portion.

Watch the video about instant noodles:

It's all about the pasta

— It is known that Italians love pasta, but at the same time they do not lose their enviable slimness. Perhaps you have some secret?

— Italians, like all residents of Mediterranean countries, not only rarely face the problem of obesity, but suffer much less:

  • cardiovascular diseases,
  • diabetes,
  • malignant tumors.

- Is it really the merit of pasta?

— Modern nutritionists have proven that the quality of health is determined by the Mediterranean diet, an important component of which is pasta. It is a preventative measure.

At the end of the last century, continental Europe, succumbing to the rapid passage of time, switched to fast food, which was dominated by red meat, potatoes and baked goods. The Italians, Greeks, Spaniards and French did not take root with sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs “packed” in soft rolls.

The debate about whether fast food products can become a substitute for “full” meals is no longer relevant today. The Americans themselves have taken the path of gradually abandoning cheeseburgers. It is no coincidence that in the East, especially in Japan, in all countries of continental Europe, the USA and Russia, “Mediterranean” restaurants are becoming so popular.

— Could you tell our readers about the principles of Mediterranean nutrition?

1. If we talk about products, then these are:

  • vegetables,
  • fruits,
  • fish,
  • seafood,
  • bird,
  • side dishes, mainly pasta and rice.

Muffins and red meat are rarely included in the diet.

2. The principle of compatibility also applies.

Real Italians perceive spaghetti or pasta as a separate dish. For several years I supervised Italian restaurants in St. Petersburg, and I was always amazed that their visitors ordered a couple of fatty cutlets, sausages or a piece of meat with pasta “with sauce”.

We eat pasta with sauces that contain a lot of herbs, tomatoes, garlic and onions. As a doctor, I can say that these ingredients contain many antioxidants that slow down the aging process of cells.


Pasta

3. There is another secret - olive oil. In order for pasta to become a dietary dish, it must not be mixed with fats of animal origin.

By the way, a small portion of pasta, to which pure extra virgin olive oil has been added, relieves ulcer pain. It has approximately the same effect as almagel.

How to cook and serve

Many people may not like the specific smell of shirataki. You can get rid of the characteristic aroma by soaking the noodles in cold water for a while or at least rinsing them in it. But this is not the only way to “cleanse”. You can get rid of the smell by boiling the product for 2-3 minutes in salted water. By the way, after this the noodles will become a little softer and more elastic. You can give the product elasticity in another way: fry the washed noodles for several minutes in a heated frying pan without fat.

Many stores sell not only dry shirataki. It is not uncommon to see noodles in a marinade. To prepare such a product, the marinade should be drained, the noodles should be washed under running water and then boiled or steamed with boiling water.

Shirataki itself is almost tasteless, but that’s part of its charm. This product easily absorbs the smell of spices and other components of the dish. Due to its neutral taste, Japanese noodles can be combined with a variety of foods. It can serve as the basis for soups and main courses, and be part of cold appetizers and various salads.

A typical Japanese-style vegetarian lunch is a plate of shirataki with tofu seafood and vegetables. Many people add konnyaku noodles to miso soup or serve as a side dish with beef, fish or chicken. Shirataki goes well with vegetables, especially broccoli or cauliflower. But it would be wrong to say that shirataki can be the basis of exclusively oriental recipes. Many people use these low-calorie noodles as a dietary replacement for Italian spaghetti. Some gourmets prefer to cook shirataki with cream or sour cream, adding a little bell pepper, carrots, herbs and spices to the noodles. To improve the taste of the product, you can always add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, paprika, curry, olive or sesame oil, and sesame seeds.

It is good to add oregano or coriander to Japanese noodle dishes.

But to prevent shirataki dishes from being harmful, you need to remember the rules for storing Japanese noodles. The product can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for several months. The contents of an open package should be eaten immediately and kept in the refrigerator for no longer than 1-2 days.

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