Eating Pasta For Dinner Could Have Some Surprising Health Benefits
A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has stated that eating pasta in the evening can benefit sleep and reduce stress. The study published in the scientific journal The Lancet also states that eating pasta in the evening will not cause you to put on weight.
The scientific reasons
The reason for these benefits? The presence of vitamin B and tryptophan in pasta. Tryptophan helps with the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin. The neurotransmitter serotonin benefits mood regulation and happiness, melatonin is called the sleep hormone, and vitamin B helps with muscular relaxation. Muscular relaxation promotes sleep, and sleep influences weight loss and serotonin production. A virtuous circle of sorts.
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Finally, pasta promotes the synthesis of insulin: a hormone which allows the transformation of sugars into energy.
La rivoluzione italiana
These results are a revolution in Italy, where 99% of Italians eat pasta regularly…but 65% of consumption takes place at lunchtime, a practice jeopardised by millennials who don’t think twice about eating pasta in the evening. Mamma Mia, science is going to shake up food habits in Italy.
More under this adMore under this adSome advice anyway
This study is a warning in any case. Pastaconsumption has to be mastered (80g dried pasta per person) and the sauce mustn’t be too rich. Finally, the pasta va consumato al dente (pasta must be eaten al dente).