ClosePhoto:Greg DupreeWhen walking down the pasta aisle, it’s becoming increasingly easy to find flourless options. Legume-based pastas made with chickpeas and lentils are definitely trendy, but are they worth the hype?Gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., broke down the gluten-free alternatives in anew Instagram video. See what he has to say about chickpea and lentil pastas’ nutritional benefits and downsides.4 Easy Food Swaps to Help Improve Your Gut Health, According to a GastroenterologistFirst, it shouldn’t be surprising that chickpea and lentil pastas are commonly more nutrient-dense than regular pasta.“They have twice as much protein, they have four times more fiber,” Bulsiewicz shared. In our ownlegume pasta roundup, we recommend looking for a legume-based pasta with at least 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per serving to maximize some of the bean’s biggest benefits.Did you know there’s another nutrient that these bean and lentil pastas provide? It’s iron. Legumes are a great source of iron, and given that iron can help our red blood cells provide oxygen throughout the body, these legume-based pastas may helpkeep you energized and support your metabolism.While these pastas are healthy, there are some things you should keep in mind before making the swap.“The downside of these wonderful pastas is that they are more expensive,” the doctor said.Plus, our nutrition editorJessica Ball, M.S., RD, also points out that these protein-packed pastas differ from wheat-based pasta in a few other key areas.“Legume pasta is not the same texture or flavor as regular pasta, and it’s not a 1-for-1 swap,” Ball said. “It shouldn’t be considered a replacement for regular pasta, but it can be a nice option for when you want to up the protein and fiber content of your meal and you won’t mind the texture or flavor differences.”Overall, we support these pastas alongside Bulsiewicz. They’re a great gluten-free option on the market and provide a different approach to incorporate more plant-based protein and fiber sources into your eating pattern. But there are other ways you can include nutrients like fiber and protein into your dish with standard pasta and noodles. Try recipes like ourArtichoke, Chickpea & Mozzarella Pasta Saladand ourZucchini, Fennel & White Bean Pasta.Can People with Diabetes Eat Pasta?Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

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Photo:Greg Dupree

a recipe photo of EatingWell’s Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale

Greg Dupree

When walking down the pasta aisle, it’s becoming increasingly easy to find flourless options. Legume-based pastas made with chickpeas and lentils are definitely trendy, but are they worth the hype?Gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., broke down the gluten-free alternatives in anew Instagram video. See what he has to say about chickpea and lentil pastas’ nutritional benefits and downsides.4 Easy Food Swaps to Help Improve Your Gut Health, According to a GastroenterologistFirst, it shouldn’t be surprising that chickpea and lentil pastas are commonly more nutrient-dense than regular pasta.“They have twice as much protein, they have four times more fiber,” Bulsiewicz shared. In our ownlegume pasta roundup, we recommend looking for a legume-based pasta with at least 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per serving to maximize some of the bean’s biggest benefits.Did you know there’s another nutrient that these bean and lentil pastas provide? It’s iron. Legumes are a great source of iron, and given that iron can help our red blood cells provide oxygen throughout the body, these legume-based pastas may helpkeep you energized and support your metabolism.While these pastas are healthy, there are some things you should keep in mind before making the swap.“The downside of these wonderful pastas is that they are more expensive,” the doctor said.Plus, our nutrition editorJessica Ball, M.S., RD, also points out that these protein-packed pastas differ from wheat-based pasta in a few other key areas.“Legume pasta is not the same texture or flavor as regular pasta, and it’s not a 1-for-1 swap,” Ball said. “It shouldn’t be considered a replacement for regular pasta, but it can be a nice option for when you want to up the protein and fiber content of your meal and you won’t mind the texture or flavor differences.”Overall, we support these pastas alongside Bulsiewicz. They’re a great gluten-free option on the market and provide a different approach to incorporate more plant-based protein and fiber sources into your eating pattern. But there are other ways you can include nutrients like fiber and protein into your dish with standard pasta and noodles. Try recipes like ourArtichoke, Chickpea & Mozzarella Pasta Saladand ourZucchini, Fennel & White Bean Pasta.Can People with Diabetes Eat Pasta?Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit

When walking down the pasta aisle, it’s becoming increasingly easy to find flourless options. Legume-based pastas made with chickpeas and lentils are definitely trendy, but are they worth the hype?Gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., broke down the gluten-free alternatives in anew Instagram video. See what he has to say about chickpea and lentil pastas’ nutritional benefits and downsides.4 Easy Food Swaps to Help Improve Your Gut Health, According to a GastroenterologistFirst, it shouldn’t be surprising that chickpea and lentil pastas are commonly more nutrient-dense than regular pasta.“They have twice as much protein, they have four times more fiber,” Bulsiewicz shared. In our ownlegume pasta roundup, we recommend looking for a legume-based pasta with at least 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per serving to maximize some of the bean’s biggest benefits.Did you know there’s another nutrient that these bean and lentil pastas provide? It’s iron. Legumes are a great source of iron, and given that iron can help our red blood cells provide oxygen throughout the body, these legume-based pastas may helpkeep you energized and support your metabolism.While these pastas are healthy, there are some things you should keep in mind before making the swap.“The downside of these wonderful pastas is that they are more expensive,” the doctor said.Plus, our nutrition editorJessica Ball, M.S., RD, also points out that these protein-packed pastas differ from wheat-based pasta in a few other key areas.“Legume pasta is not the same texture or flavor as regular pasta, and it’s not a 1-for-1 swap,” Ball said. “It shouldn’t be considered a replacement for regular pasta, but it can be a nice option for when you want to up the protein and fiber content of your meal and you won’t mind the texture or flavor differences.”Overall, we support these pastas alongside Bulsiewicz. They’re a great gluten-free option on the market and provide a different approach to incorporate more plant-based protein and fiber sources into your eating pattern. But there are other ways you can include nutrients like fiber and protein into your dish with standard pasta and noodles. Try recipes like ourArtichoke, Chickpea & Mozzarella Pasta Saladand ourZucchini, Fennel & White Bean Pasta.Can People with Diabetes Eat Pasta?

When walking down the pasta aisle, it’s becoming increasingly easy to find flourless options. Legume-based pastas made with chickpeas and lentils are definitely trendy, but are they worth the hype?

Gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., broke down the gluten-free alternatives in anew Instagram video. See what he has to say about chickpea and lentil pastas’ nutritional benefits and downsides.

4 Easy Food Swaps to Help Improve Your Gut Health, According to a Gastroenterologist

First, it shouldn’t be surprising that chickpea and lentil pastas are commonly more nutrient-dense than regular pasta.

“They have twice as much protein, they have four times more fiber,” Bulsiewicz shared. In our ownlegume pasta roundup, we recommend looking for a legume-based pasta with at least 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein per serving to maximize some of the bean’s biggest benefits.

Did you know there’s another nutrient that these bean and lentil pastas provide? It’s iron. Legumes are a great source of iron, and given that iron can help our red blood cells provide oxygen throughout the body, these legume-based pastas may helpkeep you energized and support your metabolism.

While these pastas are healthy, there are some things you should keep in mind before making the swap.

“The downside of these wonderful pastas is that they are more expensive,” the doctor said.

Plus, our nutrition editorJessica Ball, M.S., RD, also points out that these protein-packed pastas differ from wheat-based pasta in a few other key areas.

“Legume pasta is not the same texture or flavor as regular pasta, and it’s not a 1-for-1 swap,” Ball said. “It shouldn’t be considered a replacement for regular pasta, but it can be a nice option for when you want to up the protein and fiber content of your meal and you won’t mind the texture or flavor differences.”

Overall, we support these pastas alongside Bulsiewicz. They’re a great gluten-free option on the market and provide a different approach to incorporate more plant-based protein and fiber sources into your eating pattern. But there are other ways you can include nutrients like fiber and protein into your dish with standard pasta and noodles. Try recipes like ourArtichoke, Chickpea & Mozzarella Pasta Saladand ourZucchini, Fennel & White Bean Pasta.

Can People with Diabetes Eat Pasta?

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