By Steve Wilson The Paducah Sun Newspapers are often faulted for not printing enough good news , and a reader lodged a fresh complaint along that line last week. "Why didn't you have a story about the study that found eating pasta is good for you? TV had it , and it was all over social media. We spaghetti lovers would appreciate reading something good about a food that's gotten a lot of criticism." I said I hadn't heard about the study and would look into it. What I learned is that despite all the cheerful sound bites and headlines it generated ("Pasta isn't fattening and can help you lose weight") the study provides a prime example of how slapdash reporting can mislead more than inform. It's no mystery why the study was widely reported , especially by media that are fond of "click bait" and measure success by the number of eyeballs they attract online. Pasta sales have dropped in the past decade as low-carbohydrate diets have gained favor. Many nutritionists disparage the food as "empty calories" without much benefit , especially for people wanting to lose weight. . . .
Buried far down in a couple of the stories were these facts: - A traditional serving of pasta in Italy is no more than three ounces , far smaller than what most people eat in the U.S. , and less likely to have a high-calorie sauce. It's usually served as a light first-course.
- Italians in the study were likely to follow the healthful Mediterranean diet , which is rich in olive oil , fish , fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
- Italian pastas have more whole grains than most American white-flour varieties. They're higher in nutrients and fiber , making them beneficial in giving a sense of fullness that helps control calorie intake.
- The study was partly funded by Barilla , a leading pasta-maker.
. . . While the Italian study is less than a ringing endorsement for filling up on pasta , it's good to see evidence that moderate consumption is healthy and can even help people lose weight. What's unhealthy are media reports that skim the surface of a study and misrepresent its findings.
This is a condensed version of the article. The full version is here but behind a paywall.
