“People just adore pasta. It’s a simple fact” – Marc Vetri
I for one am someone who truly adores pasta. And, despite my love for pasta, it didn’t take away the bloat and guilt I would frequently experience eating it.
Eventually, I decided to make a change. Was I going to continue like this? Eliminate pasta from my diet altogether? Or upgrade?
The latter option was the most logical solution for a pasta-lover like me. I was pleased to find out that it wasn’t the pasta in itself that was evil, it was the ingredients in the pasta that I had to reconsider…
That’s when I met Spelt Pasta; Spelt pasta didn’t force me to sacrifice taste for nutrients, and I’ve been eating it ever since.
The problem with Pasta
Pasta has received such a negative reputation over the years… and rightfully so… but for all the wrong reasons.
The problem isn’t the pasta or the “carbohydrates”. The true problem lies within the most basic ingredients used to make the pasta, and this goes far beyond refined flour vs. whole-wheat flour.
Wheat is a far more complex ingredient than we think and the majority of the wheat consumed by humans today is not the same wheat that our ancestors consumed.
And you may be thinking… “Well, what’s the problem with that?”
The majority of modern wheat today has been hybridized and processed hundreds of times to increase yield and profit. The problem with this is that our bodies cannot keep up with these frequent changes, so much so, that we have seen a tremendous rise in wheat intolerance over the past decade, affecting millions of people.
Modern day wheat has been stripped of all it’s nutrients, making it virtually worthless to consume.
The modern wheat of today lacks all of the valuable factors that assist in proper digestion within the body. Thereby leaving us with empty calories, consequential bloating and no nutrients.
What’s in my Pasta?
If you’re going with a major brand like Barilla (who owns over 30% of the pasta market), you may want to think twice about putting that kind of pasta into your body.
The typical pasta sold by Barilla has been made with low-quality wheat, stripped of all its nutrients, to the point where they have to fortify it to make it remotely edible and marketable to you.
The typical ingredients your pasta may contain (taken from Barilla’s Angel Hair Pasta):
SEMOLINA (WHEAT), DURUM WHEAT FLOUR, VITAMINS/MINERALS: VITAMIN B3 (NIACIN), IRON (FERROUS SULFATE), VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE MONONITRATE), VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN), FOLIC ACID
The take-away? Completely unnecessary.
High quality wheat that has not been excessively altered contains all of those minerals and more in its original-unadulterated form. They don’t have to add those synthetic vitamins and minerals to it, because it is already there.
Treat yourself to eating pasta that looks less like a lab concoction and more like real food.
Spelt Pasta
The spelt pasta I enjoy on a regular basis is filled with naturally occurring vitamins and nutrients, beyond what regular pasta will give you. It tastes 10 times better, and I never feel guilty eating it… Why?
Well, check out the ingredients:
Nature’s Legacy Spelt Angel Hair Pasta
ORGANIC SPELT FLOUR (UNBLEACHED, UNBROMATED & UNENRICHED), WATER
..thats it!
And you may ask, “Where are all the vitamins that I can get in the Barilla Pasta”? They are all there and more listed under the simple ingredient “ORGANIC SPELT FLOUR”.
What’s in Spelt Flour?
- Fiber
- Protein
- Niacin
- Thiamine
- Vitamin B6
- Folate
- Vitamin E
- Managnese
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Iron
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Potassium
- Calcium
I think we can agree that Mother Nature provides a far more superior vitamin list than exclusively profit-seeking companies.
Benefits of Consuming Spelt
Boost your Immune System & Increase Blood Circulation
Yes, eating this pasta can help boost your immune system and reduce inflammation.
Why? Because it has high amounts of iron and thiamine, which aid in transporting oxygen to your blood cells, thereby preventing infection.
Lower Cholesterol & Reduce High Blood Pressure
The high-fiber content in spelt allows for reduced pressure on your arteries, allowing fiber to do all the work of sweeping out those cloggers. This in turn has the power to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) due to its natural function of regulating fatty-acid balance.
Studies have consistently shown that a high-fiber diet is especially helpful in regulating glucose and insulin, thereby making it a very helpful choice to those suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Ease Digestion
Forget about that post-meal bloat with naturally de-bloating spelt pasta. Spelt’s naturally occurring, fiber-rich content is key in helping your body improve digestive function. Spelt pasta can help you feel fuller sooner, while carrying out all the bad stuff from your gut.
Strengthen your Bones
With rich levels of Manganese, Calcium, Phosphorus & more, spelt displays an impressive array of vitamins key in promoting positive bone health. These minerals help minimize bone loss over time and in turn prevent osteoporosis and other bone-weakening disorders.
Promote Brain Health
Yes, the pasta you choose to eat can even effect your brain. Spelt helps to promote brain health as opposed to diminishing it. Consuming modern day wheat hybrids (durum and semolina) has been directly linked to neurological disorders.
On the contrary, studies have shown that nutrients like niacin (present in Spelt), can help lower your risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers, memory loss and even learning disorders like ADHD. And yes, because spelt is unadulterated, it also contains less gluten.
Have your Pasta & Eat it too
Finally there is a pasta that you can eat and feel good about. So yes, life is short and you can enjoy your pasta…. as long as it’s beneficial to your health.
Check out one of my favorite brands, Nature’s Legacy here;
They have a wide range of pastas, which includes whole grain spelt and white spelt (white spelt is the easiest to transition to from white refined pasta and the nutrients and benefits remain in tact).
You can find Nature’s Legacy spelt pasta in most natural grocers nationwide.
Enjoy & Taste the Difference!
