Research

Hormonal

Semolina pasta has a low to medium glycemic index (33-61) due to its dense protein-starch matrix, resulting in slower digestion and lower postprandial glucose response compared to bread or potatoes.

Cook pasta al dente to maintain its low glycemic index. This slows digestion and prevents sharp blood sugar spikes, making it a suitable option for people with diabetes or those managing insulin resistance.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Pasta’s dense starch and protein structure allows the starch to be digested more slowly, diminishing its effect on blood glucose levels, yielding a low to medium glycemic index (GI).
Densie Webb · Nutrition Today · 2019

Why this rating

Supported by consensus statements and specific studies on GI values.

Source

Pasta’s History and Role in Healthful Diets

Densie Webb · Nutrition Today · 2019

DOI 10.1097/nt.0000000000000364

narrative_reviewCited 16×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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