Gwyneth Paltrow Won’t Let Her Son Eat Pasta, Here’s Why

June 4, 2015

If you know a little bit about Gwyneth Paltrow, aside from the fact that she’s a leading Hollywood actress, then you know that the 42-year-old believes in clean eating and healthy living. It comes as no surprise then, that she has introduced these food habits to her kids as well—Apple, 11, and Moses, 9. In fact, some reports blame her for being a tad too strict, but it’s only in their best interest.

The blonde beauty stocks her pantry with organic and whole foods, and a lot of vegetables. Interestingly, she keeps the kids away from pasta—an American staple many mothers swear by. What’s the reason behind this?

Gwyneth generally avoids starchy carbs; this includes rice, bread, and pasta. Her main concern is the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) used in the production of these foods, and its ill-effects on the body. While traditional rice and pasta would never contain HFCS, these days, many products sneak it in, mainly to increase its shelf life. We know that HFCS is added to soda and candy, but could also be present in food items such as instant oatmeal, bread, boxed rice and pasta, packaged juice, and tomato ketchup. Studies show that the average American ingests around 35 pounds of it, per year. Let’s take a look at how HFCS can affect you:

Latest research conducted by UCLA reveals that there is a definite link between what we eat and how we think. Thus, your intake of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) might be altering your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.
Another study conducted by the University of Utah suggests that humans, especially women, could experience the ill-effects of consuming food products loaded with HFCS. Female mice, who were involved in the study and who were given an HFC diet, died at a rate 1.87 times higher than the ones who were given a diet with added sugar. What’s worse—the first batch of mice produced 26.4 percent fewer offspring than their counterparts.
After evaluating several observational studies and clinical trials, the authors of the report published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that excessive fructose consumption leads to insulin resistance. It also interferes with one’s metabolism.

Being a doting and discerning parent that she is, Gwyneth might be absolutely right about banning packaged products and pasta for her kids’ meals. Moreover, her son suffers from eczema, she told Women’s Health magazine, and he must resort to a gluten-free diet. Pasta, therefore, is out of question. If you want to enjoy your pasta without the risk of gluten or harmful additives, read the ingredients on the box. Try these gluten-free pasta varieties.

Head to our Food section for healthy recipes and the latest food trends.
Here are some more recipes and tips for a Gluten-Free Diet.