Study Finds That Pasta Can Be A Healthy Part of A Mediterranean Diet

A recent study by Italian researchers has found that pasta eating fits with the healthful Mediterranean diet. Data – height, weight, activity levels, and diet – were collected from more than 14,000 participants. The participants reported their food intake over the prior 24 hours just once via telephone. The researchers found that pasta consumption was associated with better compliance to a Mediterranean style of eating. Pasta eating was negatively linked with abdominal obesity, and positively with a higher intake of tomatoes, onions, garlic and olive oil. The participants only ate about 1.5 to 3 ounces of pasta a day, which is more like a side dish than a meal.