The nutrient value of our foods is declining and the recommendation for fruits and vegetables has been raised from 5 servings a day to 7-13. It’s hard for many of us with busy lifestyles to fit in that much fresh fruit and vegetables, so we have to be creative and look for ways to get more.

Food scientists have now found a way to make pasta even more healthy by adding unripe banana flour, which is rich in antioxidants and fiber. If you make your own pasta, this can be a great way to add more nutrients to your meal.

When you’re considering carbohydrate options, pasta is a better one than you’ve been lead to believe. With all the focus on the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits, eating some pasta can’t be all bad! Pasta has a low glycemic index, which means that it doesn’t spike blood sugar levels when you eat it. And the process that produces pasta results in protein, which balances the carbs and makes it a better choice than potatoes or most breads.

The Journal of Food Science published a report that unripe banana flour contains a type of fiber called resistant starch that can even help aid in weight management and type 2 diabetes. And it offers another serving of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet, one that you can even sneak by your kids!

Replacing anywhere from 30-45% of the regular flour with unripe banana flour resulted in nutritional gains without sacrifices in flavor. The group testing the pasta found that in those ratios, the flavor was either preferred or considered to be comparable to the traditional recipe. If it sounds odd, start with 30% and give it a try. Gradually over time you can work up to a higher percentage.

Serve it with a tomato-based sauce loaded with vegetables for even more health benefits!

 

To your wellness and health: your true wealth!

Inger Pols

 

Author: Inger Pols is the Editor of the New England Health Advisory and Author/Creator, Finally Make It Happen, the proven process to get what you want. Get a free special report on The Truth About Sugar: It’s Not All Equal at www.IngerPols.com

Photo Source: Microsoft Clip Art

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