Scientists have discovered the food, which was previously thought to contribute to weight gain, can help people reduce their BMI
Eating this one food could help you lose weight
The idea that eating will make you fat is a myth - and quite the reverse is true, say scientists.
A study found that - unlike popular beliefs - eating plenty of spaghetti can reduce BMI (body mass index).
The fundamental part of the - long associated with good health - is actually associated with less chance of both general and abdominal .
Professor
Licia Iacoviello, of the Institute for Research, Hospitalisation and
Health Care (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed in Pozzilli in Italy, said: "In
popular views pasta is often considered not adequate when you want to
lose weight.
"And some people completely ban it from their meals. In light of this research, we can say this is not a correct attitude."
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It's a myth that pasta makes you fat - it can actually help reduce your BMI
She said in recent years pasta has gained a bad reputation
for being fattening leading to lots of people limiting their consumption
- often as part of some aggressive 'do it yourself' diets.
The
study published in Nutrition and Diabete looked at over 23,000 people
recruited in two large epidemiological surveys in Italy called Moli-sani
Project and INHES.
Co author Dr George Pounis said: "By analysing anthropometric
data of the participants and their eating habits we have seen
consumption of pasta - contrary to what many think - is not associated
with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite. Pasta certainly doesn't deserve its bad reputation
"Our data show that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs
contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and
better waist-hip ratio."
Many previous studies have shown the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest - even when we talk about weight control.
But very little was known about the specific role of a basic component such as pasta - a gap the latest findings now fill.
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Pasta is a key part of the Mediterranean diet
Prof Iacoviello said: "We're talking about a fundamental
component of Italian Mediterranean tradition - and there is no reason to
do without it.
"The message emerging from this study as from
other scientific analyses conducted in the context of the Moli-sani
Project and INHES is Mediterranean diet consumed in moderation and
respecting the variety of all its elements - pasta in the first place -
is good to your health".
Started in March 2005 the Moli-sani Project involves about 25,000 citizens living in the Molise region. Scientists have discovered pasta is good for your health
The aim is to learn about environmental and genetic factors underlying cardiovascular disease, and degenerative pathologies.
The
INHES (Italian Nutrition & Health Survey) Project is a research
program designed to generate information on eating habits, the factors
influencing the choice of food and awareness about the relationship
between diet and health in the Italian population.
Through
telephone interviews, nutritional data were collected in relation to the
health of 9.319 citizens from all Italian regions.
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