Whole-wheat pasta provides more of certain nutrients than regular pasta, including fiber, magnesium, manganese, copper and phosphorus. Switching from products made from refined grains to those made with whole grains may help you manage your weight, lower your risk for diabetes and cancer, and improve your heart health, according to an article published in "The Journal of Nutrition" in May 2011. Lowering triglycerides is one way in which whole grains may help keep your heart healthy.
Carbohydrates and Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat your body produces when you consume more calories than you use. Calories from sugars, refined grains and fats are particularly likely to increase your triglyceride levels, so the American Heart Association recommends eating complex carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables that are high in fiber instead of refined grains and sweets. Having high triglyceride levels increases your heart disease risk.
Regular vs. Whole-Wheat Pasta
Whole-wheat pasta is both lower in carbohydrates and higher in fiber than regular pasta, making it a healthier option for those concerned about their triglyceride levels. A 1-cup serving of whole-wheat pasta has 37.2 grams of carbohydrates, including 6.3 grams of fiber, while the same amount of regular enriched pasta contains 43.2 grams of carbohydrates and only 2.5 grams of fiber.
Eating more whole grains, such as whole-wheat pasta, may lead to lower levels of triglycerides. A study published in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2005 found that people who ate the highest amount of whole grains were less likely to have high triglycerides than those who ate the least amount. They were also less likely to have metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions, including high blood pressure and high blood sugar, that when experienced together increases your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Simply switching from regular pasta to whole-wheat pasta probably won't make a large dent in your triglyceride levels unless you normally eat a lot of pasta. You'll also want to swap other foods containing refined grains for those made with whole grains, lower your consumption of sugary and fatty foods, lose any excess weight, exercise regularly and limit the amount of alcohol you drink to help lower your triglycerides, recommends MayoClinic.com.
- HealthAliciousNess.com: Nutrition Facts Comparison Tool
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Whole-Grain Consumption and the Metabolic Syndrome: A Favorable Association in Tehranian Adults
- MayoClinic.com: Triglycerides: Why Do They Matter?
- American Heart Association: Triglycerides: Frequently Asked Questions
- The Journal of Nutrition: Putting the Whole Grain Puzzle Together: Health Benefits Associated With Whole Grains -- Summary of American Society for Nutrition 2010 Satellite Symposium
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