Is whole wheat pasta really healthier than white or is that a marketing scam?
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janbb (
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February 24th, 2015
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30 Answers
Personally I have never found a whole grain pasta that tastes good. Ick! I’ve tried many.
I think it is a marketing scam, everything in moderation. Now “they” are saying, after decades of dissing red meat and butter and other fats, that there is no link between these foods and cholesterol levels. It is the sugar and carbs that are the culprits over fats.
We have valiantly tried whote grain pasta and find it leaden and unfoodlike. There are proven small advantages nutritionally but not worth the candle.
“Opting for whole wheat ensures the most nutritional benefits, including the bran and the germ’s vitamin E, major B vitamins, antioxidants, appetite-squashing fiber, protein, and healthy fats.” Source.
They’re saying coffee is good and give babies peanuts now to try to stave off peanut allergies.
I know I’m basically a believer in the “everything in moderation” theory too but was wondering about this one. I haven’t found a brown pasta that I like either.
My daughter discovered that the smaller the brown pasta, the less objectionable it is. She has bought mini-shells and we pretend that they are edible.
I thought Milo was an epicure?
@janbb: He says, “Don’t you dare use that for my kitty litter.”
I like whole wheat pasta. :-P
It holds sauces better, it’s more filling so I don’t eat as much, and it’s higher in fiber. I don’t use it in place of all my pasta, but I like a lot of it, mostly when I want something more robust.
Best to stay away from pasta altogether. Grains encourage inflammation.
Stay away from pasta? Ha!
All I know is the texture of whole grain pasta is bad enough to make me not care if it’s “healthier” or not. If you’re not eating pasta for every meal, the nutritional difference is most likely negligible.
I have started eating whole wheat pasta for health reasons. I have tried many brands but I think Baria tastes the best.
Whole grain pasta is better for you for the same reason that whole grain bread is better than white bread. Most people now use whole grain bread. I have gotten used to whole grain pasta just as I got used to whole grain bread and skim milk. I kind of like the extra chewiness.
I’m totally with @livelaughlove21. For several reasons, my doctor advised that I switch to whole grain foodstuffs. The rice and bread I like, but the pasta… YUK!
Typo! Should have typed Barilla whole wheat pasta.
Think that’s what I bought.
I’m with the people who say none of it tastes good, better to eat the real thing. I eat less pasta when I eat it now, adding more veggies. Basically, a smaller portion. That’s how I get around it. Like you say, in moderation.
The only type of whole wheat pasta I find edible is lasagna noodles. They are firmer than white flour noodles once cooked, which makes for a pleasant texture.
Lots of gluten and calories in either case. Not much nutritional difference. When it come to pasta, you are either in or out. Everything else is marketing.
What’s wrong with gluten, assuming you don’t have Celiac disease or some imaginary gluten sensitivity? Nada.
Psht, just more “evidence” to back up the fad. Not nearly enough proof for me. Bring on the gluten.
Well even those of us with celiac have the choice of whole grain v “white”. Among whole grain is amaranth buckwheat black bean etc I have even tried kelp noodles as well as a few others that weren’t grainy. But then there is the white rice noodles( white bread).
Whole grain has more nutritional value. As long as it is not over processed enriched whole wheat or some sort meaning the wheat has been stripped of nutrition then some of it added back in.
As far as taste people adapt. It really has the potential to taste good or better then white. It can be harder to reach the perfect all denote consistency with some of them… Seems the window is smaller. But once adjusted they work well.
@livelaughlove21 South Park taught me all I need to know about gluten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbMq7Pme5pk
Anyway, whole grain pasta has more fiber and that is a plus, but there’s also this pasta I’ve seen called “white fiber”. It has as much fiber as whole grain, but it doesn’t have that horrible texture. So maybe give that a try. I pretty much only eat that or vegetable pasta (the red and green kind). Plain pasta has sort of lost its luster for me.
I have always eaten healthier no white bread or rice, they are not healthy just filled with sugars and hardly any nutritional value…. whole grain foods have fiber which the body needs, and greater health benefits, for i find whole wheat pasta much more filling which in turn means you eat far less in quantity, but you are eating good quality and bettering your health.
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