Eating Pasta Makes You Slimmer, Apparently

This is the best news we've heard like, ever. ​

After years of carbs being demonized as "bad for you" (I see you, Dukan and Atkins), we finally have a study that confirms all of your greatest dreams at once — inhaling spaghetti isn't committing "carbicide." In fact, it has a place in a healthy and balanced diet.

A study published in the Nutrition & Diabetes journal has found that pasta may actually be better for your waistline, rather than making you put on weight. Although it's worth noting that this study was carried out by researchers at the Neuromed Institute in Pozzilli, Italy — and was partially paid for by Barilla, a notable producer of several types of pasta.

The study of dietary habits and BMIs of more than 23,000 people from two different areas in Italy found no link between eating pasta and gaining weight — and those that consumed it regularly, but in moderation had a "lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio.'"

George Pounis, who co-authored the report said, "By analyzing anthropometric data of the participants and their eating habits we have seen that consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite."

He continued, "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."

Our own Good Housekeeping nutrition director Jaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN, agrees. She says, "Mangia la pasta! The key to eating it for weight loss is bulking up on tons of non-starchy veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, asparagus, mushrooms — you name it. Increasing the ratio of veggies to pasta keeps the volume that we crave when sitting down to a big bowl of spaghetti — but reduces the calorie content and amps up the fiber, helping us stay fuller, longer."

But before you go buying a microwave carbonara every day for lunch with a side of garlic bread (I mean you can, but don't blame me for your afternoon slump), the key to pasta being healthy is when it's consumed as part of a healthy Mediterranean diet, which is heavy in healthy fats like olive oil, vegetables, and fish.

So, all in all, eat the carbs — just in moderation. It sounds blindingly obvious, but this news is welcome in a world of faddy diets.

Resource: goodhousekeeping.com