There are strict government regulations in America to ensure that the food that is produced is of good quality. Pasta that is produced in the United States is one of the healthiest foods you can buy. Penne pasta is tubular in shape, and this shape makes it extremely versatile. It's used in traditional pasta dishes as well as casseroles, salads and stir-fry dishes.
Considerations
One serving of penne is two ounces of uncooked pasta, or about one cup of cooked pasta. There are several varieties of penne pasta available in the marketplace; you can find everything from traditional pasta to vegetable-based and whole-grain pasta. The method used when preparing the pasta dough can affect the pasta's nutritional value. Typically, one cup of prepared pasta contains about 200 calories.
Fat and Protein
Before any sauce is added to traditional penne pasta, it is fat free and contains seven grams of protein per serving. High-protein, soy flour-based pastas are also available and can have 10 or more grams of protein per serving. Unfortunately, dieters often undermine their efforts by smothering low-fat penne pasta in high-fat and high-calorie sauces.
Carbohydrates
Penne pasta is a good source of complex carbohydrates. Athletes often consume pasta before competitions to benefit from the slow release of these complex carbohydrates. There are 41 grams of carbohydrates in one serving of traditional penne pasta. Dietary guidelines call for 65 percent of your daily calories to come from carbohydrates.
Benefits
Most pasta sold in America is enriched with added vitamins and minerals. Enriched pasta has 100 micrograms of added folic acid, which is important to women of child-bearing age. One serving of dry pasta has 25 percent of the recommended daily value of folic acid. Penne pasta is very low in sodium and a good source of many B vitamins.
Misconceptions
Pasta has received plenty of negative press from the low-carb diet community. It should be noted that pasta has a low glycemic index, which means that when you ingest pasta, your blood sugar does not go up quickly. Simple carbohydrates have a high glycemic index, which causes the blood sugar to rise rapidly, increasing insulin production and fat storage. The complex carbohydrates in penne pasta will not cause that response, and won't sabotage the efforts of those who are trying to eat a healthy diet.
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