Adding three ingredients to pasta dishes could help lower cholesterol

A biochemist has recommended adding three ingredients to pasta in order to reduce glucose spikes and, as a result, lower your cholesterol.

Jessie Inchauspé, also known as Glucose Goddess, explained that when we eat foods including bread and pasta, these carbohydrates break down into glucose molecules and arrive into the bloodstream to give us energy.

However, the expert warned that most of us are giving too much glucose to our body and the more our glucose levels spike, the more side effects this will cause to our body, including weight gain and skin problems.

Speaking on Channel 4's Eat Smart: Secrets of The Glucose Goddess, Jessie recommended "putting clothing on your carbs" to reduce glucose spikes.

She said: "When we eat carbs, so that's starches like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, or sugars, so anything sweet from an apple to a big slice of chocolate cake. When we eat those on their own, that's called eating our carbs naked.

"Clothing is protein, fats or fibers. Instead of having your pasta naked on its own, add some chicken, some spinach, some olive oil and it's going to slow down how quickly the carbs arrive into your bloodstream, therefore slowing down the glucose spike and reducing their consequences."

Every time your blood sugar rises quickly, your body releases a hormone called insulin to bring that glucose level down. However, Jessie warned that repeated glucose spikes and lots of insulin could cause chronic inflammation.

One in five people in the UK suffer from chronic inflammation, including conditions like Crohn's, asthma and Parkinson's. The Glucose Goddess warned that if anybody is affected by one of these conditions, a lot of little glucose spikes "could be making things worse".

According to VeryWellHealth, a high level of glucose in the bloodstream can cause cholesterol abnormalities as cells no longer respond appropriately to insulin.

Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly known as "bad cholesterol" and when levels of this type are too high, arteries become narrowed or clogged, which can lead to heart disease, stroke or heart attacks.

Healthline reports that cholesterol levels and glucose metabolism are closely related as having elevated blood glucose levels poses a risk of higher cholesterol, manifesting as diabetic dyslipidemia.

The NHS advises that you can lower your cholesterol by eating healthily and getting more exercise. Some people also need to take medicine. For more information, visit the NHS website.

Eat Smart: Secrets of The Glucose Goddess Starts Tuesday 7 January 8pm on Channel 4.