Pasta's Health Benefits for Diabetics

            I was looking for pasta coupons online the other day and I saw a piece of news that makes my noodle-addiction seem more like a very healthy habit than a carbohydrate dependency. According to a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care, soy germ-enriched pasta improves endothelial function, reduces blood pressure, and reduces markers of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

            "In the treatment of type 2 diabetes, dietary modifications potentially represent a more attractive and cost-effective approach than drugs," Dr Kenneth D. R. Setchell from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, said. The pasta is widely available in Italy already but is still hard to find in the United States – though hopefully this will change in light of these promising findings.

             Dr. Setchell and a group of Italian scientists compared the effects of consuming soy-germ enriched pasta with the benefits of eating regular pasta. The 20-week crossover study of 26 adults with type-2 diabetes found that the enriched pasta, which contains compounds known as isoflavone aglycons, reduced cardiovascular risk markers when consumed regularly. Patients who ate the enriched pasta saw reduced blood pressure and higher antioxidant capacity.
            "At the end of the day, pasta is a very healthy food, a good carbohydrate," Dr Setchell concluded. "Unfortunately it is not always viewed that way because it is clumped together with carbohydrates in general." This last bit is especially heartening to me, and I’m totally going to remember that pasta is good for you when I use pasta coupons. Thanks for alleviating my carb guilt, Dr. Setchell! (If you’re interested, you can see the full report in Reuters Health).