The average American eats 16 pounds of pasta per year. That’s a lot of spaghetti Bolognese! But health-wise, is there a difference between white and whole wheat? We asked Sharp dietitian Ursula Ridens to explain the differences.
White pasta Wheat pasta
White vs. wheat pasta
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Winner
Made with refined grains, meaning the bran and germ are removed
Made with whole grain, meaning the bran, germ and endosperm are intact
A finer texture and improved shelf life
Three times as much fiber and five times as much insoluble fiber
Less fiber, and some nutrients (like iron and vitamin B) are lost in refinement
A grainy, chewier texture
While wheat's texture can take getting used to, the high fiber and nutrient retention make it a clear winner.
Winner
make it a clear winner.
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From the expert“It may sound silly, but when talking to patients,I often call myself a ‘fiber fan.’ There are just so many benefits of fiber that I feel eating more plant-based foods like whole grains, fruits and veggies is one of the most important changes we can make to our eating.”
— Ursula Ridens, RDN, registered dietitian at Sharp
HealthCare's Outpatient Nutrition Counseling Program
The wonders of wheat
Feel satisfied longer
Ward off digestive diseaseImprove digestion
Reduce your cancer risk
If wheat pasta isn't your thing, pastas made from the following whole grains are also good sources of fiber.
As a high-fiber food, whole wheat pasta can help:
4 awesome alternatives
Quinoa Kamut
BuckwheatSpelt
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