Is Barilla Spaghetti Bad For You?
Short answer
Barilla spaghetti is not bad for you, as it provides much-needed nutrients in large quantities and is not processed, unlike many other pasta brands. Apart from people with wheat allergies, Barilla can be made part of a healthy diet plan.
Recommended Alternative
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
While eating pasta may often be decried as a good way to pack on pounds, Barilla spaghetti is actually quite good for your health. Unlike many other pastas, which are made using refined ingredients, Barilla spaghetti is made from durum flour and semolina, a product which comes from durum wheat. Named for its hardness, durum wheat also provides the most protein of the various wheat species used as a food ingredient.
In a 2 lb box of Barilla spaghetti, there are a recommended 16 servings, with each serving size being 2 ounces. Let's assume that you eat more than two ounces of spaghetti in one meal and give the nutritional value for 4 ounces of Barilla spaghetti. If you eat two servings, you will get 400 calories, 2 grams of fat (which is 4% of the daily value and includes no saturated fat or trans fat), no cholesterol, no sodium, 84 grams of carbohydrates (28% of the DV), 4 grams of dietary fiber (16% of the DV), 2 grams of sugars (8% of the DV),and 14 grams of protein. Additionally, Barilla spaghetti contains large amounts of several nutrients. Our two-serving size example will yield 30% of the DV for riboflavin, 70% for thiamin, 30% for niacin, 60% for folic acid, and 20% for iron.
Of course, what you choose to add to your noodles will make a difference regarding the health content of your spaghetti dinner. And although the noodles may pack quite a few calories per serving (200), they can definitely be part of a health-conscious meal plan. Also, if you have a wheat allergy, you will, of course, want to avoid this brand due to the durum wheat products (durum flour and semolina) used.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain
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up & down insulin levels
Ingredients to be aware of
- excess carbs
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excess calories
-
wheat (for those allergic)
Benefits
- good source of:
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iron
-
fiber
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b-vitamins
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protein
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riboflavin
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thiamin
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niacin
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folic acid
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Chickapea Chickpea Pasta
- Organic ingredients
- Rich in protein
- Gluten-free
- Non-GMO
- Fiber-enriched
Learn More!
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Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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