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Photos courtesy of Barilla
Nicole Osinga
Registered Dietitian
Italian company Barilla’s gluten-free pasta is made of high-quality ingredients and offers many health benefits for people suffering from digestive concerns.
Glutenis a hot topic these days, and Canadians are increasingly seeking outgluten-free products to keep themselves and their families healthy. For peoplewith digestive issues, going gluten-free can be the key to symptom-free living.
Gluten-free foods — not just for Celiac sufferers
“People with Celiac disease needto eliminate all gluten-containing products from their diet, but we’re seeingthat a gluten-free diet and gluten-free products can actually help people whohave various digestive concerns as well, including people who have irritablebowel syndrome (IBS) or even Crohn’s or colitis, which are forms ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD),” says NicoleOsinga, a Durham Region-based registered dietitian.
So while eating gluten-free is essential for people withCeliac disease — a chronic digestive disorder resulting from an immune reactionto gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat, barley, rye, millet, and sometimesoats — Osinga has noticed that many of her clients who suffer from other digestivedisorders also benefit from going gluten-free.
Gluten-free products contribute todigestive wellness, which is a foundational aspect of overall health. And goinggluten-free is surprisingly easy.
Easy swaps to make eating gluten-free effortless
“A big misconception is that eating gluten-free is really hard and expensive,” says Osinga. It doesn’t have to be that way. With products like Barilla’s gluten-free pasta on the market, you can go gluten-free without giving up your favourite foods.
Barilla’s gluten-free pasta, available at its Amazon store, is a favourite amongst those who want the taste and texture of real pasta — no sticking together or clumping — without the gluten.
“Barilla’s is probably the best gluten-freepasta I’ve ever had,” says Osinga. “It tastes so similar to standard wheatpasta. My partner didn’t even notice the difference. Two thumbs up!”
Barilla’sgluten-free pasta is made from high-quality ingredients, which allow the pasta to cook perfectly al dente every time. The ingredientsare also non-GMO and the gluten-free pastas are produced on a dedicatedgluten-free line, giving you peace of mind.
FODMAP — Healing digestive concerns with simple steps
Along with eating gluten-free, eating a low-FODMAP diet can help those with IBS, IBD, or sensitive stomachs. FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) are carbohydrates that tend to trigger digestive symptoms.
Osinga recommends 10 keyingredients to include in a low-FODMAP diet, starting with Barilla’s gluten-freepasta. Other foods to include are oats, garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil(to add flavour without garlic itself, which is a high-FODMAP food), dicedtomatoes, edamame, berries, seeds (such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chiaseeds), spinach or kale, maple syrup, and dried herbs (such as basil, oregano, andpaprika). These ingredients guarantee a flavourful and healthy diet whileeliminating foods that may cause digestive distress.
Recipe: Eggplant & Zucchini Gluten-Free Pasta
Servings: 4
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
- 1 box of Barilla Gluten-Free Spaghetti
- 1/4 cup garlic-infused olive oil
- 1 eggplant, diced
- 2 zucchini, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 24 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried basil
Directions
Cook your pasta according to package directions, until perfectly al dente.
Heat 1.5 tbsp of garlic-infused olive oil in a saucepan, over medium heat. Add about half of the eggplant and sauté until softened, browned and cooked through. Remove and place in a bowl. Repeat with another 1.5 tbsp of the oil and the rest of the eggplant, adding to bowl when done.
Add the last tbsp of oil to the saucepan and sauté the zucchini and green onions until the zucchini is crisp and tender. Add the eggplant back to the skillet along with the tomatoes and basil. Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Divide pasta into four servings. Add sauce on top. Enjoy!
