Pasta, Pasta: The tasty all-rounder is versatile, filling and healthy. It only makes sense that noodles are among the most popular foodstuffs, even in gluten-free form. But beware: There is gluten-free pasta and there is gluten-free pasta!

Pasta, – whether fresh (“Pasta fresca”) or dried (“Pasta asciutta”), has long become a significant part of our staple diet – and not only ours. Hardly any other foodstuff enjoys such “global” presence as the noodle. From typical Italian spaghetti to Chinese glass noodles – the world of Pasta literally knows no boundaries.

Sustaining nutrition for body and soul
Noodles are a light and particularly healthy kind of food with an ideal composition of nutrients and, due to the low level of fat content, they can nourish body and soul without causing weight problems. Their dietary fibres activate the digestive system, and their "complex” carbohydrates predestine noodles to be an amazing long-term energy source for both physical and mental work. And the best thing: Noodles can provide happiness, and not only because they taste so good; their carbohydrates and the amino acid, tryptophan, help to create the happy hormone known as serotonin, which is highly efficient for lifting the spirits.

(Gluten-Free) There are noodles and there are noodles
Of course, the above mentioned also applies to gluten-free pasta – however, one has to differentiate between the various types of production. While “classic” dry pasta is produced from durum wheat semolina, gluten-free noodles can be made in several ways. One of those ways is to use starch as an alternative to durum wheat. This pasta is more neutral in taste and provides the body with fast, but unfortunately non-sustainable energy; and it has another crucial disadvantage: It is low on nutrients.

Definitely superior: Pasta made from grain
The healthy and sustaining alternative is pasta made from high-grade flour, e.g. from peeled, germ removed and ground rice and maize grains or alternatively from buckwheat, as it is made by Schär. Whole-grain flour provides noodles with protein, essential fats, fibres and carbohydrates, which are filling and are stored in muscles and in the liver by the body in the form of glycogen. Another plus: This pasta is very similar to traditional durum wheat noodles in terms of nutrition, taste and cooking characteristics. And, whichever kind of pasta one tends to prefer, it tastes best when “al dente”!

Pea protein enrichens noodles
In order to ensure that pasta is an absolutely wholesome foodstuff that fulfils all important nutritional recommendations, other high quality nutrients are often added to the noodle dough. Schär adds valuable proteins in the form of pea protein isolate, which enrichen the pasta. Isolated pea protein is a natural vegetable product with high level properties with regard to nutritional physiology. It is rich on essential amino acids and it is free from gluten and lactose. This makes the pasta the perfect solution for gluten-free nutrition and for vegetarians. Proteins are essential for the metabolism and for the development of muscles.

Keeping allergy risks low
The protein that is most valuable and most easily ingested and absorbed by the human organism is contained within hen’s eggs. But hen’s eggs in particular can often cause allergic reactions. This is why the Schär noodle variety is made without adding eggs, with the exception of Tagliatelle and Lasagne. The allergy potential of soya and lupines is also relatively high, and, as with peas, both are often used to enrichen gluten-free pasta. But in comparison peas are less harmful and the safest additive.

Life with(out) pasta
Thus, the modern foodstuff industry now makes it as easy as possible for those suffering from celiac disease to enjoy a balanced and nutritious diet, without having to forego culinary pleasures. Because a life without pasta – that is something that hardly anyone could imagine nowadays, no matter which race or creed. What would life be without a regular portion of steaming, seductively scented, delicious, sauce covered noodles...