From creamy lasagnas to rich Bolognese sauces and
crusty Italian ciabatta breads, Italian food is both tasty and
delicious and has become a staple component of many of our diets. But
for all its creaminess, richness and tastiness, just how healthy is
Italian food?
Weight Management
Fruit and vegetables such as grapes, figs, lemons,
tomatoes, aubergines, garlic and onions play an important part in
Italian cooking. These fruits and vegetables are low in calories and
high in essential vitamins and nutrients that the body needs. Foods
such as these, when incorporated into a portion controlled diet,
could help you to maintain a healthy weight or help you in losing
weight.
Heart Health
Two staples of Italian cuisine are olive oil and
fresh seafood, both of which are fantastic sources of omega-3 fatty
acids and unsaturated fats. Olive oil and fish such as salmon,
sardines and tuna contain these healthy fats, which have been proven
to prevent heart disease and reduce blood pressure.
Italian
food such as ciabatta bread, focaccia bread and pasta forms the basis
of many Italian dishes. Even pizza with a wholegrain crust, which can
be yours at Frankfort IL Pizza Delivery,
is a good source of dietary fibre. Foods that contain dietary fibre
have many important benefits to the human body. In addition to
helping the body maintain its sugar levels, dietary fibre can also
help to lower cholesterol and aid the digestive system.
Antioxidants
Studies have shown that foods that are rich in
antioxidants can help protect the body from cell damage, which in
turn reduces the risk of cancer. Tomatoes have been found to be a
rich source of antioxidants and given that tomato and tomato based
products form the basis of many Italian dishes, this makes Italian
food a healthy choice for your body.