Dreamfields Pasta Healthy Nutrition FAQs
Dreamfields Pasta is a premium pasta with twice the
fiber,
fewer
digestible carbohydrates and a
lower
glycemic index than traditional
pasta has. With its delicious taste and nutritional benefits, Dreamfields
is a healthful option for people with diabetes -- and a flavorful, nourishing
pasta for the entire family.
We realize that you are conscious about what your patients eat, so we've answered
some of your questions about our products. For definitions of other terms
found throughout our site,
visit our online
glossary.
Unique Qualities
What makes Dreamfields Pasta unique? How it is different than
the other pastas?
Dreamfields’ Consumers
Who can eat Dreamfields Pasta?
Production
What is Dreamfields Pasta made of?
What makes the production of Dreamfields Pasta unique?
How is the level of digestible carbohydrates established for
Dreamfields Pasta?
Nutrition
How does the nutrition in Dreamfields compare to traditional
pasta?
Isn’t the low-carb craze over? What about carb-conscious
consumers?
What are digestible carbohydrates?
Why does Dreamfields Pasta packaging say 5 grams of digestible
carbohydrates per serving when the Nutrition Facts lists 41 grams of total
carbohydrates in a label serving?
How are digestible carbohydrates different from net carbohydrates?
Why does the label say 190 calories per serving if a serving
has only 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates?
If most of the carbohydrates are protected, does it have fewer
calories, too?
Why does a package of Dreamfields Pasta list a 2-ounce dry serving
when the MyPyramid.gov website lists a 1-ounce dry serving?
What are the added fibers in Dreamfields? What is inulin?
Are there any side effects from eating Dreamfields since it has
31 protected carbohydrates and more fiber than traditional pasta?
Why does Dreamfields contain sorbitol? How much sorbitol is in
a serving?
Is Dreamfields a whole-wheat pasta?
Dreamfields and Diabetes
What makes Dreamfields a great pasta for people with diabetes
or pre-diabetes?
What does glycemic index mean? How is the glycemic index of Dreamfields
determined?
How can people with diabetes use information about Dreamfields’ lower
glycemic index or digestible carbohydrates to manage their carbohydrate intake?
What does Glycemic Load (GL) mean? How is the GL of Dreamfields
determined?
Why does Dreamfields Pasta have a 65 percent lower glycemic index
(GI) than traditional pasta? How does the GI compare to whole wheat pasta?
If I’m using glycemic index as a tool to manage diabetes,
how do I create a low GI pasta meal?
Is Dreamfields just for people with diabetes?
Buying
What pasta shapes does Dreamfields Pasta come in?
Where can I buy Dreamfields pasta?
Cooking
Can I use Dreamfields pasta in place of traditional and whole
grain pastas in recipes?
Once cooked, how does Dreamfields pasta compare to traditional
and whole-wheat pasta for flavor and texture?
How do you prepare Dreamfields Pasta?
On the label, the serving size of Dreamfields is 2 ounces dry
pasta. How much is that in ounces and cups when it’s cooked?
How does food preparation affect the glycemic index of a pasta
dish?
Unique Qualities
What makes Dreamfields Pasta unique? How it is different than the
other pastas?
Like other premium pastas, Dreamfields Pasta is made
primarily with
durum wheat semolina. That is why it has the
great
taste, texture, and cuts (shapes) of traditional pasta. Beyond that,
Dreamfields has three unique differences:
- Dreamfields’ unique recipe and manufacturing process, which are
patent-pending, protect all but 5 grams of the carbohydrates per serving
(2 ounces dry, or about 5 ounces cooked) from being digested. As a result,
the blood glucose rise from eating Dreamfields pasta is lower than that
from traditional pasta.
- Dreamfields contains inulin, which is a 100 percent natural prebiotic fiber
found in common foods such as Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), asparagus,
garlic, and raisins. By providing a food source for healthy bacteria
living in the gut, prebiotics such as inulin may: help promote healthy digestion,
support a healthy immune system, and improve calcium absorption.
- Dreamfields
Pasta is the only pasta clinically shown to have a lower glycemic
index than traditional pasta (65% lower).
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Dreamfields’ Consumers
Who can eat Dreamfields Pasta?
Dreamfields Pasta is a great pasta option for the whole family! A
nourishing pasta choice for all ages, Dreamfields delivers traditional pasta
flavor and texture, in
six popular shapes,
for your family’s favorite
pasta
recipes.
Dreamfields also provides unique benefits to help
people
with diabetes plan menus to manage post-meal blood glucose levels, as
part of an overall healthful eating. To make family meal planning and preparation
easy, everyone can enjoy the same flavorful pasta dishes, prepared with Dreamfields.
Made with durum wheat, Dreamfields pasta is not appropriate for those with
gluten intolerance (celiac disease) or a wheat allergy.
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Production
What is Dreamfields Pasta made of?
Like other premium pastas, Dreamfields Pasta is made primarily with
durum
wheat semolina, with a one-of-a kind protein-fiber blend that provides its
unique qualities. The added fiber makes it comparable in fiber content to
whole wheat pasta. However, Dreamfields is not whole-wheat pasta.
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What makes the production of Dreamfields Pasta unique?
Dreamfields Pasta is produced with a unique protein-fiber blend, added to
semolina flour. The functional qualities from the protein-fiber blend modify
the microstructure of pasta dough and influence the permeability of its starch
granules.
During digestion this matrix creates a protective barrier that reduces starch
digestion in the small intestine. As a result, starch-digesting enzymes cannot
change all the starch in Dreamfields Pasta to simple sugars. These protected
carbohydrates cannot then be absorbed into the bloodstream. Instead protected,
or undigested, carbohydrates pass into the colon. There they are fermented,
providing many of the health benefits of fiber.
Changes to the microstructure of pasta dough and the permeability of starch
granules means that a
serving of Dreamfields (2 oz dry) has just 5
grams of digestible carbohydrates and a
glycemic index (GI) that is 65% lower
than traditional pasta.
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How is the level of digestible carbohydrates established for Dreamfields
Pasta?
Each batch of pasta is rigidly monitored and clinically tested. The testing
method includes measuring the blood glucose response to the whole food (cooked
pasta) by humans (“in vivo”) to establish the pasta’s stated
glycemic index. After a person eats the standardized amount of pasta, blood
glucose levels are plotted on a graph. The shape and area under a blood glucose
response curve is used to determine the glycemic index and reflect the level
of digestible carbohydrate. This clinical testing is conducted at AMK Clinical
Research Facility in Gainesville, FL., an independent laboratory that complies
with FDA guidelines.
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Nutrition
How does the nutrition in Dreamfields compare to traditional pasta?
While the total carbohydrate content is comparable, Dreamfields Pasta has
twice the fiber (5 grams per label serving, or 20% of the Daily Value),
and
fewer digestible carbohydrates than traditional pasta. Dreamfields has
all of the taste and texture of traditional
pasta, because it is made with
durum wheat semolina that is enriched with iron and B vitamins (niacin, thiamine,
and riboflavin) and fortified with folic acid.
Download our Nutrition Facts Panel.
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Isn’t the low-carb craze over? What about carb-conscious consumers?
While the craze may be history, carbohydrate consciousness is top-of-mind!
Today’s consumers want to choose their carbohydrates wisely. That means
today’s consumers are more likely to: recognize that carbohydrates
aren’t all alike; choose foods that deliver more nutrition than just
carbohydrates; eat more fiber-rich foods; try to go easy on added sugars;
and be portion smart when choosing foods with carbohydrates.
Dreamfields pasta is a great option for carb-conscious consumers. It delivers
more fiber than traditional pasta. It’s the perfect “plate partner” for
other nutrient-rich foods, including vegetables, legumes, lean meat, poultry,
and fish. And many of its carbohydrates are non-digestible, which helps those
with diabetes manage their blood sugar response.
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What are digestible carbohydrates?
Digestible carbohydrates are those carbohydrates that are broken
down during digestion (prior to reaching the colon) by stomach acids and
digestive enzymes. Digestion results in small nutritional substances that
can be absorbed into the blood stream, and then used as an energy source.
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Why does Dreamfields Pasta packaging say 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates
per serving when the Nutrition Facts lists 41 grams of total carbohydrates
in a label serving?
While the total carbohydrate in Dreamfields Pasta is the same as traditional
pasta, Dreamfields’
patent-pending formula and
unique manufacturing process protect all but 5 grams of carbohydrate from being digested.
Instead, these 31 grams of
protected
(undigested) carbohydrates, along with
the 5 grams of fiber, pass to the colon where they are fermented, providing
many of the benefits of fiber. That leaves 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates
per label serving.
41 grams total carbohydrates
- 5 grams fiber
- 31 grams protected (undigested) carbohydrates
(starch)
= 5 grams digestible carbohydrates
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How are digestible carbohydrates different from net carbohydrates?
For Dreamfields
digestible carbohydrates are determined by a clinical
method that measures the blood glucose response of the whole food (cooked
pasta). This response is used to establish the amount of digestible carbohydrates. Clinical
testing is conducted at an independent clinical laboratory.
Unlike digestible carbohydrates,
net
carbohydrates are simply estimates of
the digestibility of the carbohydrates in a food. One typical way to estimate
net carbohydrates in a serving is a math calculation: total carbohydrates
(grams) minus fiber (grams) equals net carbohydrates (grams). There
is, however, no consensus definition or FDA regulated method for calculating
or labeling net carbohydrates. Dreamfields Pasta is not labeled with net
carbohydrates.
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Why does the label say 190 calories per serving if a serving has
only 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates?
All nutrition labeling in the United States is strictly controlled by the
FDA and must conform to FDA rules and regulations. The Dreamfields' Nutrition
Facts Panel complies with these rules. The FDA requires the Dreamfields’
Nutrition
Facts Panel to state 190
calories and 41 grams of total
carbohydrates per
2 ounce dry serving. Only 5 grams of the 41 grams of total carbohydrates are
digested.
To clarify, 5 of the 41 grams of total carbohydrates are fiber; another 31grams
of total carbohydrates are protected from digestion with a fiber-protein matrix.
This matrix lets the 31 grams of undigested carbohydrates pass into the colon.
There they are fermented, like fiber and resistant starches are, forming
short-chain fatty acids that yield about 2 calories per gram when metabolized.
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If most of the carbohydrates are protected, does it have fewer calories,
too?
The FDA requires that the Dreamfields’
Nutrition Facts Panel state
190 calories per 2 ounce dry serving. However, since only about 5 grams
of the 41 grams of total carbohydrate are digested, the calorie count of
Dreamfields per label serving may actually be closer to 130 (see formulas below). Current FDA
rules do not have a provision for accurately accounting for the calorie impact
of the protected carbohydrates in Dreamfields.
Explanation of total calories (shown as 190 calories per label serving):
Like traditional pasta, 190 calories per label serving reflects that most
carbohydrates (about 36 grams) contribute 4 calories per gram. In Dreamfields
Pasta dietary fiber (5 grams), which is part of the total carbohydrates per
label serving, contributes less than 4 calories per gram. (Insoluble fibers
contribute 0 calories; soluble fibers vary between 1.5 to 2.5 calories per
gram, yielding some energy from by-products of fermentation in the colon.)
The math for 190 calorie per label serving is calculated:
9 calories from 1 gram of fat
+ 28 calories from 7 grams of protein
+ 144 calories from 36 grams of carbohydrates (starches and sugars)
+ 6 calories from 3 grams of soluble dietary fiber
(assuming about 2 calories/gram)
+ 3 calories to correct for rounding
= 190 calories per label serving.
Explanation of 130 calories (per label serving): Theoretically the
protected (undigested) carbohydrates in Dreamfields would contribute about
2 calories per gram, versus 4 calories per gram from starches and sugars,
since protected carbohydrates behave like soluble fibers. This would reduce
the calories actually absorbed from a serving to about 130 calories. In round
numbers the math for a serving of Dreamfields pasta is this:
9 calories from 1 gram of fat
+ 28 calories from 7 grams of protein
+ 20 calories from 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates
(starches and sugars)
+ 72 calories from 36 grams of protected carbohydrates,
including the fiber,
which theoretically
contribute about 2 calories per gram
- 1 calorie to correct for rounding
= 130 calories per label serving.
In order to claim 130 calories per label serving on the
Nutrition Facts Panel -- or to make a reduced-calorie claim -- significant testing must be completed.
There is, however, scientific evidence to support the assumptions noted above.
Until then, the FDA requires that Dreamfields Pasta be labeled with total
calories of 190 per 2 ounce dry serving.
As with any food, portion control is an important facet of calorie control
and maintaining a healthful diet, especially those with diabetes. To create
a healthful eating plan for your individual needs, consult with a qualified
health care professional, such as a registered dietitian or certified diabetes
educator.
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Why does a package of Dreamfields Pasta list a 2-ounce dry
serving when the MyPyramid.gov
website lists a 1-ounce dry serving?
For many products, MyPyramid.gov and label
serving sizes are not always the
same, as they are used for different purposes. That’s true for pasta,
too.
1.)
For food labeling: Serving sizes are standardized amounts used
for comparing similar foods, such as Dreamfields and traditional pasta. Serving
size is not a recommended amount; it is not the portion an individual usually
eats either. Instead Nutrition Facts serving sizes reflect the amount of
food customarily eaten at one time. These amounts are based on reports from
nationwide food consumption surveys and are used as “reference amounts” for
comparisons. Typically label servings are measured in common household terms
such as “1/2 cup.” However, for most packaged pasta, a label
serving is given as “2 ounces dry.”
2.)
In MyPyramid: Instead of serving sizes, MyPyramid advises total
amounts from each group per day to help people meet their daily nutrient
and calorie recommendations. In the Grain Group that’s the equivalent
of 6 ounces total for a 2000 calorie-a-day eating plan. The advice is slightly
less or more, depending on the calories people need.
3.)
How much then is an ounce from the Grain Group? That depends
on the food, for example,1 slice of bread is an ounce. For pasta, 1/2 cup
cooked or one ounce dry pasta equates to 1 ounce from the Grain Group. These
comparable amounts are given in a few, easy-to-remember portions (equivalents)
that are mostly nutritionally comparable.
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What are the added fibers in Dreamfields? What is inulin?
The fiber added in Dreamfields is a fiber blend that includes
inulin, a
100 percent natural fruit and vegetable fiber found in common foods such
as Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), asparagus, garlic and raisins. Like
fiber in oats, peas and apples, inulin is soluble. This fiber blend also
includes other soluble fibers: xanthan gum and pectin. Being soluble offers
unique health benefits. It dissolves easily in water, which in turn may improve
regularity. Soluble fiber may help reduce cholesterol levels.
Inulin may have other health promoting benefits, too, which are currently
being researched. As a
prebiotic, it is food for the “good” bacteria
(bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) that live in the colon, and so may help
improve digestive health. Friendly bacteria grow and produce fermentation
products that may also help support a healthy immune system. Inulin also
may help modulate glucose and lipid (fat) metabolism in the liver, may help
improve calcium absorption, and may help keep the colon functioning properly
for recycling of water and electrolytes. Scientific evidence is growing on
the role of inulin in health.
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Are there any side effects from eating Dreamfields since it
has 31 protected carbohydrates and more fiber than
traditional pasta? If protected carbohydrates act like fiber,
couldn’t that be too much?
Dreamfields Pasta is made with 100% FDA approved, safe food ingredients.
There have been no cases of side effects or gastrointestinal distress reported
in clinical studies with Dreamfields Pasta. In fact, its added fiber is known
to help promote healthy
digestion. Most American consumers consume significantly
less fiber than recommended for health. As an option in pasta meals; Dreamfields
offers one way to meet fiber recommendations.
Note: For any traditional pasta, people known to be sensitive to wheat
gluten must avoid products made with wheat flours (semolina).
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Why does Dreamfields contain sorbitol? How much sorbitol
is in a serving?
Sorbitol, listed as an ingredient, is added during manufacturing to protect against moisture loss.
The amount is very small --- less than 1 gram of sorbitol in a 2 ounce serving of Dreamfields Pasta – and
comparable to the amount in a sugar free breath mint.
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Is Dreamfields a whole-wheat pasta?
No. Dreamfields is made primarily with enriched durum wheat semolina, which
is why it has the flavor and texture of a premium pasta. Many of the whole-wheat
pastas typically contain some durum wheat semolina, but they are made predominately
with whole-wheat flour, giving them a strong taste and gritty texture.
The fiber content of Dreamfields pasta is comparable to many whole-wheat
pastas. It contains 5 grams of fiber, or 20% Daily Value per serving (2-ounce dry,
or about 5 ounce cooked). That’s
twice
the fiber of traditional pasta. Most of the fiber in Dreamfields comes
from inulin, which is a soluble fiber (like fiber in oats, peas and apples).
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Dreamfields and Diabetes
What makes Dreamfields a great pasta for people
with diabetes or pre-diabetes?
One of the most prevalent misconceptions that accompany a diagnosis
of pre-diabetes or diabetes is that you will never be able to enjoy pasta
again. That’s simply not true. While you may need to control carbohydrate,
calorie, and fat intake, and make sensible food choices, traditional favorites
like white pasta can be part of a healthful eating plan.
Dreamfields’ nutritional benefits and delicious taste make it a healthful
option for people with pre-diabetes or diabetes, as well as a flavorful,
nourishing pasta for the entire family. Why?
- Fewer digestible carbohydrates. Dreamfields’ unique
recipe and manufacturing process, which are patent-pending, protects
all but 5 grams of total carbohydrates per serving (2
ounces dry or about 5 ounces cooked) from being digested and therefore lessens
post-meal blood glucose rise as compared to traditional pasta. As
a result, blood glucose rise from eating Dreamfields pasta alone is lower
than that from traditional pasta.
- Twice the fiber of traditional pasta (5 grams
per label serving). Dreamfields contains inulin; a 100 percent natural
prebiotic fiber found in common foods such as Jerusalem artichokes
(sunchokes), asparagus, garlic and raisins. By providing a food source
for the healthy bacteria living in the gut, prebiotics such as inulin
may: help promote healthy digestion, support a healthy immune system,
and improve calcium absorption. Inulin is a soluble fiber (like
that found in oats, dried beans and apples) which means it dissolves
easily in water and may improve regularity. Soluble fiber can
also help reduce cholesterol levels.
- 65% lower Glycemic Index than traditional
pasta. Dreamfields’ unique fiber and protein blend allows
its pasta to have a Glycemic Index (GI) of 13, compared to traditional pasta,
which has a GI of 38. A lower GI in the whole meal can translate to
a lower post-meal blood glucose rise.
- Tastes delicious. Dreamfields Pasta has
all of the taste and texture of traditional pastas, which makes
it a great pasta option for the whole family!
To create a healthful eating plan for your individual needs, consult with
a qualified health care professional, such as a registered dietitian or certified
diabetes educator.
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What does glycemic index mean? How is the glycemic index
of Dreamfields determined?
The
Glycemic Index (GI) is a measure of the effect of the consumption of
food on blood glucose levels. The GI ranks the blood glucose response
of a food on a scale of 0 to 100. High GI foods (70+) are those that are
rapidly digested into small sugar molecules (mono and disaccharides) and
rapidly raise blood glucose levels after eating. Medium GI foods have indexes
of 56 to 69. Low GI foods (55 or less) are digested slowly, releasing
glucose gradually into the blood stream. Dreamfields has a very low
GI of 13.
Dreamfields Pasta has a 65% lower GI than traditional pasta:
- GI of Dreamfields Pasta = 13
- GI of traditional pasta = 38
The reason for the difference: Dreamfields’ unique fiber and protein
blend protects all but five grams of its 41 grams of carbohydrate per label
serving from being digested. That therefore lessens its post-meal blood glucose
rise as compared to traditional pasta.
Dreamfields uses a highly-controlled clinical glycemic index (GI) testing
procedure to test each batch of pasta. This rigid clinical testing with human
subject ensures the level of the GI level stated on the label. This clinical
testing is conducted at an independent laboratory.
The glycemic index may be a useful tool to help manage blood glucose. To learn more about the glycemic index, consult with a qualified health care
professional, such as a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator.
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How can people with diabetes use information about Dreamfields’ lower
glycemic index or digestible carbohydrates to manage their carbohydrate
intake?
With the guidance of a registered dietitian or diabetes educator, people
with diabetes may choose to use the
glycemic index (GI) or carbohydrate counting
among their tools to help manage their daily food intake and blood glucose
levels.
For the glycemic index, the lower GI of Dreamfields Pasta translates
into a lower blood glucose rise after eating Dreamfields Pasta alone as compared
to traditional pastas. For a low GI meal, partner Dreamfields Pasta with
other low GI foods.
For carbohydrate counting, those who use
carbohydrate counting for menu planning can count 5 grams of digestible carbohydrates
per label serving (2 ounces dry or about 5 ounces cooked). A registered
dietitian or diabetes educator can determine how to count Dreamfields’ protected
carbohydrates and fiber, which are fermented in the gut and produce some
calories from the products of fermentation.
To see how Dreamfields affects your blood glucose, check your blood
glucose 11/2 to 2 hours after eating. Individual blood glucose responses
will vary.
If you’re not familiar with the GI or carbohydrate counting as tools
for diabetes management, consult a registered dietitian or diabetes educator
to see if these tools can be part of your diabetes management plan for your
daily food intake and for blood glucose control.
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What does Glycemic Load (GL) mean? How is the GL of Dreamfields
determined?
Glycemic load (GL), as well as glycemic index (GI), are used
by some people with diabetes -- with the help of a registered dietitian or
diabetes educator -- to help manage their daily food intake and blood glucose
levels. The GL reflects both the type or quality (GI) of carbohydrate and
the quantity of carbohydrate for a serving size of a food.
How Glycemic Load is calculated:
(GI/100) x Total Available Carbohydrates = GL
How
we determine Dreamfields’ Glycemic Load:
(13/100) x (41 total carbs - 5 grams fiber) = 4.68 or a GL of 5, as rounded
The GL of a label serving of Dreamfields pasta is equivalent in value to
its digestible carbohydrates. Dreamfields Pasta has a GL of five, which is
equal to 5 grams of digestible carbohydrate per serving (2 ounces dry or
about 5 ounces cooked).
To learn more about glycemic load, including how it applies a whole meal,
consult with a qualified health care professional, such as a registered dietitian
or certified diabetes educator.
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Why does Dreamfields Pasta have a 65 percent lower glycemic
index (GI) than traditional pasta? How does the GI compare to
whole wheat pasta?
With its unique fiber and protein blend Dreamfields Pasta has a
glycemic
index that is 65 percent lower than traditional pasta and whole wheat
pasta.
- GI of Dreamfields Pasta = 13
- GI of traditional pasta = 38
- GI of whole-wheat pasta = 37
Typically high glycemic foods are those that are 70+, while low glycemic
foods have a GI of less than 55.
The reason that Dreamfields has a lower GI is due to its unique protein-fiber
blend and manufacturing process. Of the 41 grams of total carbohydrate in
each serving of Dreamfields pasta (2 ounces dry or about 5 ounces cooked),
all but 5 grams of carbohydrate are protected from digestion. Instead the
protected carbohydrate passes into the colon where it provides the health
benefits of fiber, as a result of being fermented. Dreamfields’ unique
protein and fiber blend translate into a reduced GI.
While some individuals may find it beneficial to select low GI foods,
a low GI approach is not appropriate for everyone. To
learn more about the glycemic index, consult with a qualified health care
professional, such as a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator.
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If I am using glycemic index as a tool to manage diabetes,
how do I create a low GI pasta meal?
While each food has its own GI, people rarely eat foods alone, but rather
with other foods as a meal or snack. The GI of a pasta dish depends on several
factors, including how it is prepared, the other foods eaten with it, and
the amount consumed, as well as a person’s individual blood glucose
response to the food and meal. Other food substances in a meal – fiber,
proteins and fats - all affect the rate of digesting and absorbing carbohydrates.
To create a low GI and GL pasta meal, follow these food preparation tips:
- Prepare Dreamfields Pasta according to package directions.
- Choose a pasta recipe – and plan the whole meal – to include
other low GI foods, in addition to Dreamfields Pasta.
- Load up vegetables and fruits. Most have a low to moderate
GI ranking, are nutrient dense, and low in fat and calories too.
- Avoid highly processed foods.
- Choose foods that are high in fiber.
- Include some protein in your pasta meal including lean meat, poultry
or fish.
- Measure portion sizes to make sure you’re actually consuming
what you think you are since portion size of any food, and food combination,
affects the GI and GL of a meal.
Check your blood glucose 1½ to 2 hours after eating to see how the
meal affected your blood glucose levels and if the response was as you expected.
If you choose to use GI as one tool for diabetes management, consult with
a registered dietitian or diabetes educator for guidance on food preparation
and menu planning to manage blood glucose response.
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Is Dreamfields just for people with diabetes?
Dreamfields pasta is for everyone in the family, not just for those with
diabetes. Whether or not you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, healthful eating
means including a variety of nutrient-rich foods:
- Whole and enriched grain products
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Legumes
- Fat-free and low-fat milk products
- Lean meat/poultry/fish
- Appropriate amounts of heart-healthy fats
Since Dreamfields pasta has twice the fiber of traditional pasta (5 grams
per 2 ounce dry serving), helps promote healthy digestion, and is the perfect
recipe partner for a variety of nutrient-rich foods, it is a nutritious and
delicious pasta choice for everyone in the family!
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Buying
What pasta shapes does Dreamfields Pasta come in?
Dreamfields’ traditional pasta flavor and texture comes in six popular
cuts: Spaghetti, Linguine, Lasagna, Rotini, Penne Rigate and Elbows. These pasta
shapes can be used in most of your family’s favorite
pasta
recipes.
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Where can I buy Dreamfields pasta?
Dreamfields is available nationwide in most grocery stores.
Find
a store near you. You can also purchase it online via
Amazon.com,
carbsmart.com,
netrition.com,
vivalowcarb.com and
other online stores (
google: “Dreamfields
pasta”). You may also purchase your favorite pasta shapes by the
case through the Dreamfields Online Store at
www.buydreamfields.com.
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Cooking
Can I use Dreamfields pasta in place of traditional and whole
grain pastas in recipes?
Yes, you can! Dreamfields is as easy to prepare as traditional or whole-grain
pasta. Just substitute Dreamfields pasta for any recipe that calls for traditional
or whole-grain pasta.
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Once cooked, how does Dreamfields pasta compare to traditional
and whole-wheat pasta for flavor and texture?
Because Dreamfields is made primarily with
enriched
durum wheat semolina, it has the flavor and texture of traditional pasta.
Whole-wheat pasta is made predominately with whole wheat flour and typically
some durum wheat semolina. As a result, whole-wheat pasta has a stronger
taste and gritty texture.
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How do you prepare Dreamfields Pasta?
Prepare Dreamfields as you make traditional pasta. Check the package for
recommended cooking times. Cooking times vary slightly with the type of pasta.
As with all pasta, it's best to cook Dreamfields Pasta “al dente,” or
slightly firm and not soft or overcooked.
Get
tips for cooking great pasta.
Dreamfields’ great flavor and various shapes go perfectly with all
types of sauces, protein-rich foods (meat, poultry, fish, legumes, or tempeh)
and vegetables. Match the pasta shape to the type of sauce or the recipe
you prefer. Recipe possibilities are endless. Check our
delicious
and healthful pasta recipes. Or get creative with your own
Pasta
Improv as you improvise recipes that are just right for you!
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On the label, the serving size of Dreamfields is 2 ounces dry
pasta. How much is that in ounces and cups when it’s cooked?
Two ounces dry pasta equals about 5 ounces cooked. Remember that all
pasta expands as it cooks.
Ounces to cups (estimates):
Penne Rigate: 2 oz. dry = 1/2 cup dry = 1 cup cooked
Elbows: 2 oz. dry = 1/2 cup dry = 1 cup cooked
Rotini (spirals): 2 oz. dry = 3/4 cup dry = 1½ cups cooked
Spaghetti: 1/2 inch circle = 1 cup cooked
Linguine: 3/4 inch circle = 1 cup cooked
Lasagna: 2 pieces = 1 1/2 cups cooked
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How does food preparation affect the glycemic index of a pasta
dish?
The
glycemic index of any dish, including a pasta dish, are affected
by several food preparation factors, including all ingredients in a mixed
dish, how they are prepared, how much fat, protein, and fiber the dish contains,
the type of sugar and starch in the ingredients, the amount consumed, and
other foods in the meal. For starchy foods, such as pasta, cooking time plays
a role; overcooking increases the GI because starch granules have more time
to gelatinize so they are more easily digested. Cook Dreamfields Pasta according
to package directions.
Tip: Eating pasta with lots of vegetables – in the pasta
dish or on the side – reduces the glycemic load in a mixed dish or
a meal. It’s a great way to enjoy Dreamfields Pasta, and an easy
way to fit in additional fiber-rich veggies!
If you are using GI as one tool in diabetes management, talk to your diabetes
educator or registered dietitian to help you address these factors in your
menu planning.
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