i thought pasta was low fat...why is it bad for a diet?

Answer 1

pasta is very bad
too much starch

Answer 2

Pasta can be high in carbohydrates. Also, pasta is often served slathered in high-fat sauces and cheeses.

However, it is not necessarily bad for a diet IF it is prepared properly. Here are some guidelines (by the way, I lost over 50 pounds, and I did not drop pasta from my diet!)

Don't over-cook the pasta. It should still be somewhat firm (soft, but not gooey). Cook it just enough so it's not crunchy anymore. This keeps some of the carbs more complex, and it takes more energy for your body to digest it.

Don't use store-bought sauces. Make your own and control the amount of oil, cheese, and other high-calorie ingredients.

Have small portions. Restaurant size portions of pasta, on average, are about 3 times larger than they should be. Serve a stack of veggies beside a small serving of pasta.

Have whole-wheat pasta. The fibre content is healthier, and since the fiber is non-digestable, you will not get calories from the fibre.

Low-fat Parmesan cheese is yummy and a great low-calorie substitute for the regular stuff.

ENJOY!!!

Answer 3

It's not. It's just bad if you're doing Atkins or South Beach. If you're following an actual diet that works, like The Movie Star Diet, you'll find that pasta can very much be a part of your diet.

Answer 4

Pasta is low in fat...depending on what sauce you use, but it's high in carbohydrates...so if you're on a low carb diet it's best to stay away from pasta...However there are wheat pasta that have some dietary fiber...when you're counting carbs you can subtract the dietary fiber from the carbs...

Everything in moderation!!!

Answer 5

no. pasta, by itself, does'nt cause u to put on da pounds. since pasta is high in carbohydrates, myths like these are what help fuel the popular high-protein, low-carbohydrate weight loss diets. if u buying into them, you might be missing out on the pleasure and nutritional benefits of a plate piled high with penne and loaded with a colorful array of vegetables. da only downside to pasta is dat we sometimes eat too much of the wrong kinds -- the highly refined pastas, made of white flour and semolina, for example, which don't have da added benefits of providing fiber and other nutrients found in other types of pasta. solution? eat whole grain pastas, such as those made from whole wheat, which have lots of nutrients that are normally leeched out of refined pasta. And with more fiber, chances are u'll eat less, since you'll get fuller faster.

Answer 6

Highly processed foods: Be aware that highly processed low-fat or fat-free products often have as many or more calories as the full-fat versions and should be avoided. Simply because a food is low-fat or fat-free, doesn’t mean that unlimited quantities can be consumed. An excess of calories—whether from fat-free or high-fat foods—will be converted to body fat, regardless of whether those calories come from fat or from sugar (carbohydrate).

Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta to avoid.It is better to avoid white rice, white flour pasta, and white bread

Answer 7

High carbs. But you don't have to give up pasta -- just find a low carb or whole wheat pasta you like and eat it moderately.

Answer 8

All the carbs in pasta are stored, and not used the carbs turn into fat.

Answer 9

Pasta is high in starch, as is bread. The more starch you eat, the more weight you gain. You should go without bread and starch, also no sugar. Vegitables, fruits, high protein meats like fish and chicken.

Answer 10

Most pastas are high glycemic carbohydrates. These rapidly raise your blood sugar, trigger insulin, and raise your blood fats (triglycerides). Eat whole grain or Quinoa pasta.

The following healthy living recommendations will help you if you’re trying to lose weight, tone up your muscles, have aspirations of building lean muscle mass, are attempting to get a wash board stomach, or just want to feel better:

*1) Burn more calories then you're consuming everyday and measure your results using the following formula: Calories Consumed minus Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) minus Physical Activity minus the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). A website that explains this formula in more detail and will help you determine how many calories you need to reach or maintain a certain weight is at http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/calsburned.htm

Get a diet and fitness calculator that you can put on your computer or cell phone. This will allow you to easily calculate the above formula, set goals, log your daily calorie consumption, and register your physical activities.

Set realistic goals for your ideal body weight. Here are two websites that will calculate a suggested body weight:
Adults: http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm
Teens/Children: http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/exercise/weight/bmi.html

It is difficult and unhealthy to lose more than one or two pounds per week. There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If you eat 500 fewer calories per day for a week you will lose one pound. If you burn through exercise 500 more calories per day for a week you will lose one pound.

*2) Eat natural and organic foods found on earth versus something created by a corporation to make money. Eat meals in small portions throughout the day and take a good multi-vitamin supplement.

Avoid “High Glycemic Load Carbs” (sugar, pastries, desserts, refined starches such as breads, pasta, refined grains like white rice; high starch vegetables such as potatoes) and drink lots of water. Read this article for more information on high GL Carbs:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates.html

Do not try fad diets or diet pills. Here is an excellent food pyramid that anyone can follow: http://www.rayandterry.com/html/images/PyramidLRG.gif?osCsid=26a424be471d1337e7c2f105d5c64d9d

*3) Exercise on most days by doing cardiovascular training and/or resistance training activities.

Read a book or find a certified trainer to make sure your doing all resistance training exercises correctly. A great book to buy that teaches you the resistance training basics is “Weight Training for Dummies”. A superb magazine to buy with resistance training routines that will not get you bored is "Muscle and Fitness". Signup for the free newsletter. An excellent free online resource is at http://www.exrx.net/

A good book to buy that teaches you the cardiovascular training basics is “Fitness for Dummies”.

*4) Get plenty of sleep. Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety.

*5) Educate yourself continually on health issues and make a life long commitment to good health. A great free publication is “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005”. A superb book to read is “You The Owner’s Manual”. An excellent periodic publication is the “Nutrition Action Health Letter”. A reputable test you can take to measure your biological age is at http://realage.com

Look at all areas where you can enhance your health. For example, make improvements in the quality of the air you breathe. Review outdoor air quality forecasts where you live and get an indoor air purifier. Send me an email or yahoo instant message to "gainbetterhealth" if you want an indoor air purifier recommendation and if you have any questions.

*Click on all the source links below to get the full benefit of the recommendations. The answers presented to your health questions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.