Fascinating New Research Says Eating Pasta Doesn’t Make You Fat

Evan Sung / Lilia

Carbs have gotten a bad rap in this new Whole 30/gluten-free/paleo world, but it turns out that pasta has been trying to help us all stay healthy this entire time.

During a study from the Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCCS) Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy, researchers followed the eating habits of more than 23,000 subjects, as well as their anthropometric data (body measurements).

“We have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite,” said George Pounis, a doctor of public health at IRCCS, as well as the paper’s lead author. “Our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals’ needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference, and better waist-hip ratio.” If you’re paying attention, that last part means that pasta might actually make you more attractive.

Of course, if you’re caught up on the Mediterranean diet, you know that pasta is a key component of what experts have deemed one of the healthiest and well-rounded diets in the world.

“In popular view, pasta is often considered not adequate when you want to lose weight,” said Licia Iacoviello, head of the institute’s Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology. “Some people completely ban it from their meals. In light of this research, we can say that this is not the correct attitude. We’re talking about a fundamental component of Italian Mediterranean tradition, and there is no reason to do without it.”

via GIPHY