Gina Jackson Personal Fitness

Hmmm? What the heck is a “nutraceutical?” Will I like “nutraceutical pasta?”

You bet! And if you are trying to manage weight loss, improve and eliminate body fat stores, you need to find and eat nutraceuticals and for energy, you want some nutraceutical pasta!

Wikipedia says about nutraceutical:

“Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of nutrition and pharmaceutical, refers to extracts of foods claimed to have a medicinal effect on human health. The nutraceutical is usually contained in a medicinal format such as a capsule, tablet or powder in a prescribed dose.

More rigorously, nutraceutical implies that the extract or food is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against a chronic disease^[1].”

A couple of examples of the nutraceuticals we all love to eat and consume:

• resveratrol from red grape products as an antioxidant
• soluble dietary fiber products, such as psyllium seed husk for reducing hypercholesterolemia
• broccoli (sulforaphane) as a cancer preventative
• soy or clover (isoflavonoids) to improve arterial health
• flavonoids antioxidants
• alpha-linolenic acid from flax seeds
• beta-carotene from marigold petals
• anthocyanins from berries
• botanical and herbal extracts such as ginseng, garlic oil

So what ‘cha talking about Gina? Get to the point, right?

Ok, Ok, Hollis Ashman and Jacqueline Beckley, Consumer Understanding Editors, FoodProcessing.com, published a great article a couple years back (I missed it and the product endorsed) about Barilla Plus and the nutritional value it provides over certainly regular pasta, and more importantly over whole wheat pasta.

Barilla Plus (Rotini, Penne, Angel Hair, Spaghetti etc.,) with multi-grains, fiber and omega-3s moves pasta from just a starch to a food with excellent nutritional value.

At the peak of low-fat dieting, pasta was the key foodstuff to consume. It was low in fat, easy to prepare and affordable. As diets shifted to low-carb, pasta fell out of favor. Even now, new pastas need to work hard to get the consumer’s attention.

“The new Dietary Guidelines arrived just as low-carb dieting was on the decline. With the new guides came increased emphasis on (and growing consumer awareness of) grains, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids for heart health. Barilla has created a product with multi-grains, fiber, protein and omega-3s to entice the consumer to consider pasta again. The result is Barilla Plus.”

Barilla Plus is available in six pasta shapes for a variety of recipe needs for $1.69-1.99. Each package is 16 oz. It requires a slightly longer cook time versus traditional pasta due to the ingredients. The package clearly identifies this requirement.

The authors reported they tied the rotini shape. The package is a golden yellow with the Barilla logo, different from the deep blue of regular Barilla pasta, and has a clear window to show the shape of the pasta you are purchasing. There is a set of bursts “More Nutrition Naturally Delicious”, “Made with Multi-grain,” “Good Source of Fiber and Protein” and “Rich in Heart Healthy Omega-3.”

The side panel of the box features an interesting table comparing the pasta to chicken breast, ground beef, milk, egg, spinach, broccoli, salmon and shrimp on the basis of protein, fat, fiber and omega-3. The table clearly shows the high nutritional value of this pasta against those other foods. The back panel links the multi-grains to fiber, legumes to protein and fiber and ground flaxseed to omega-3s, along with the structure function claims each of these ingredients can offer.

Texture and flavor are critical to the perception of quality of pasta. Uncooked, this looks like regular pasta. There is a faint, unfamiliar odor generated in the kitchen when boiling the noodles. The flavor is heartier than refined flour pasta but still mild, even with the ingredients one might think would give a stronger flavor profile. There is a clean finish, unlike early versions of whole-wheat pasta. The flavor profile allows a good fit with a center-of-the-plate entrée or alone under a sauce.

A 2-oz. serving provides 1 g of fat, 25 g of sodium, 10 g of protein, 4 g of fiber and only 200 calories. These features allow the claim of two times the fiber and 40 percent more protein than traditional pasta. The familiar comfort meal for the family can now be easily transformed into a meal providing significant health benefits.

Does the product deliver?

The Barilla brand stands for quality and family with products dedicated to developing, creating and sharing delicious, wholesome food with the “global neighborhood.” The company is still family-owned and -run. This product is about satisfying family needs and providing a healthy foundation for a nutritionally balanced meal.

Creating traditional and familiar foods while meeting the needs of today is an accomplishment. This product allows the family to eat more nutritiously without changing things too much. While priced more than commodity pasta, this is an affordable alternative to many.

Barilla also has the best sauces, in my opinion, on the market. My favorite has always been, Roasted Garlic with Green and Black Olives in tomato sauce. Pour it out of the jar, warm it up, serve it over this great pasta and add a little turkey sausage, grilled chicken or grilled fish and dinner is served!

Barilla GREEN & BLACK OLIVE Sauce combines the zesty flavors of plump green and black olives with chunks of real tomatoes, 100% pure olive oil, capers, and a blend of fresh garlic, onions, parsley, and oregano. Slow-simmered and prepared using a special “layered” cooking process that allows each ingredient’s flavor to shine through, GREEN & BLACK OLIVE bursts with the tangy taste of Italian olives.

Legend has it that Puttanesca (Green & Black Olive Sauce) was named for a sauce made by the “working ladies of the evening” who used a combination of savory and aromatic ingredients most available to them that were quick to prepare, and included olives, capers and fresh tomatoes.

Works for me! Works better now with the Nutraceutical Pasta!