Barilla Plus Pasta & Diabetes

Barilla Plus Pasta & Diabetes
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Barilla Plus is a multigrain pasta made from a blend of grains and legumes with added nutrients for heart health. Barilla Plus helps you meet your grain serving requirements with a lower glycemic effect as a result of the added proteins, fiber and whole grains. The pasta's lower blood sugar impact may be beneficial for diabetics.The Harvard School of Public Health recommends whole grains, including whole grain pasta, in place of refined carbohydrates and white flour pasta to help promote overall health.

Ingredients

Barilla Plus pasta is a blend of chick peas and lentils with oats, semolina flour, flaxseed and barley. The combination reduces the starch and carbohydrate impact. Barilla Plus also includes egg whites and oat fiber.

Nutrition Information

Each 2 oz. serving of Barilla Plus contains 210 calories. There are 20 calories contributed by the 2 g of fat per serving. You will need to account for 38 g of carbohydrates per serving, though the 4 g of dietary fiber will help slow the blood sugar impact, reducing rapid increases. There are 10 g of protein per serving, which equals 11 percent of the USDA's daily recommended intake. Plus pasta contains iron and folic acid as well.

Diabetes Benefits

Barilla Plus is a multi-grain substitute to traditional pasta for diabetics. The whole grains and dietary fiber contribute to heart health and reduce your cholesterol. With the fiber and protein content in the pasta, the carbohydrates will absorb slowly, causing a gradual blood sugar impact. Plus is low in sodium, which helps with blood pressure concerns that are common among diabetics.

Uses

Barilla Plus pasta is available in many varieties, allowing you to substitute most any traditional form of pasta in your diet with Plus. Add a fresh tomato sauce for the lycopene benefit. Limit your white cream sauce choices since these tend to be higher in fat and cholesterol. Create pasta salads loaded with fresh vegetables and tossed with a light vinegar blend dressing. The rich, nutty flavor of the whole grains will add depth to most any pasta dish. Stick to your total recommended carbohydrate intake based on the meal plan created with your diabetes specialist.

References

Article reviewed by Tad Cronn Last updated on: Jun 9, 2011

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