Spaghetti is one of the known pasta recipes people eat today. Made of pasta, tomato or cream sauce, herbs, and spices, it is one of the meals being served at home and in various fast food or fine-dining restaurants. The following are the health benefits of eating spaghetti, along with a sample recipe.
Health Benefits
Energy
One health benefit of eating spaghetti is a boost in energy. Pasta is one of the dish’s ingredients and it is a rich source of carbohydrates, with protein and fats as the other two. Carbohydrates give fuel to the body, enabling it to perform its functions, such as the activities of daily living. Without carbohydrates, the person would feel weak and tired to perform his daily tasks.
Fiber
Another health benefit of spaghetti is fiber. It is a substance that acts as sweep and helps clean the body by eliminating toxins and free radicals. It also promotes digestion and metabolism through enhancing the peristaltic action of the intestines; this way, it also helps prevent digestive conditions like constipation (difficulty in passing stools), hemorrhoids, and diverticulitis (inflammation in the intestinal area). To add, fiber reduces the amount of low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol in the blood; thus, it helps prevent heart conditions like hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke.
Vitamins
Spaghetti is also rich in vitamins. According to Live Strong, a half cup serving of spaghetti sauce gives vitamins A and C, in addition to calcium, iron, and lycopene. Vitamin A is responsible for promoting a person’s vision and integrity of the skin and the mucus membranes while vitamin C raises the body’s resistance against infection and illness. Vitamin C also promotes the function of collagen, an agent that acts as cement and helps bind loosely connected cells and tissues. Calcium helps strengthen the bones and teeth and promotes proper cardiac rhythm while iron promotes adequate oxygenation to the cells and tissues. As cited by Live Strong, men who suffer from prostate cancer may eat tomato sauce dishes to decrease oxidative DNA damage to prostate cells.
Brain Health
Another health benefit of eating spaghetti is brain health, which involves cognition and memory. According to a recent trial published in “The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” as cited by Pasta Fits, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet and Mediterranean diet demonstrated protective impact against age-related cognitive reduction in men and women aged 65 years old and above. Hence, the elderly may consider eating spaghetti, preferably low salt and oil to prevent hypertension and risk of heart diseases.
Sample Recipe
One spaghetti recipe is Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef. According to All Recipes, the ingredients include a pound of ground beef, one onion (chopped), four cloves garlic (minced), a small green bell pepper (diced), one 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, one 16-ounce tomato sauce, one six-ounce can of tomato paste, two teaspoons dried oregano, two teaspoons dried basil, one teaspoon salt, and half teaspoon black pepper.
To prepare, as per the publication, the ground beef, garlic, green pepper, and onion are combined in a large sauce pan. Then, they are cooked and stirred until the meat is brown and the vegetables are tender. After that, the grease is drained. Once done, the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste are stirred into the pan. The dish is seasoned with oregano, salt, pepper, and basil.
Spaghetti is one of the healthy food options people eat today. Hence, adding it to meal menus at home, at school, and at work helps boost a person’s health and well-being.
