anyone know how i should count carbs with this pasta? It is supposed to be lower in gi than regular pasta. supposedly it has only 5 grams digestible carbs even though it has 41 total carbs.

I use it all the time. 4oz uncooked or 8oz cooked is 10g carbs.
I count that as 1 block unfavorable - and have no problems staying in the zone - esp. since this is used as the 25% or less of unfavorable carbs in my meal.

Hi Debra,

Subtract the fiber from the total carbohydrate on the nutrition label and the remainder is the insulin stimulating carbohydrate to count for the Zone.  It is unfavorable carbohydrate.

With your diabetes, you'd be much better off eating Zone pasta.  Zone food will not stimulate the production of excess insulin.

I have tried both zone pasta and Dreamfields pasta. Have to agree with John on this, I have no trouble staying in the Zone with Dreamfields (even though I don't understand how and why the carbs are protected). On the other hand, I am definitely NOT satisfied at all with how poorly I am able to stay in the Zone with Zone pasta. I tried the pasta back in February, along with other zone foods, and could not stay in the Zone wiht it.

Yeah, I knew that... But, why? I think that this is the reason why the US does not recognize these as protected carbs. But, as long as it works! It is a nice alternative to regular pasta, although I generally don't eat much pasta at all. Nice to have an option.

Cran, there are ways to engineer foods through coatings, etc, which prevents certain areas of the GI track from acting quickly enough to breakdown the food as expected. Similar to how Enteric Coated Fish Oil passes the stomach before getting to the small intestines where it is broken down to avoid the fishy burps, it would seem that Dreamfields has developed a special process of coating their carbs (likely while it was still being refined as flour) to ensure that they're not broken down by either the stomach or small intestines, so they'll pass through the gut as fiber in the colon. I haven't tried it, and it seems like it could work, but the "ferminting" of the carbs in the gut has to be accompanied by gas of some sort, so that may be worth knowing when eating. However, the benefit of little to no insulin spike probably makes it worthwhile.

Now, if only they would make an ORZO version.
Yes, I know Zone 1-2-3 has one; however, it is balanced, and I like adding my own protein,
and DreamFields would be (is) much more affordable.

I went to Dreamfields website and submitted a query.
However, while searching through, I found a link to a VIVA Low Carb Superstore, which carries a 0 calorie Orzo:
Here's the info:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
How to use the Orzo Pasta:
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Use the orzo in soups as well but more as a rice substitute. For example make chicken and rice soup but uses the orzo instead of the rice. You can also use the orzo as a bed for salmon or chicken, or mix it in with homemade chili.
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No need to worry about rush shipping on this, they have a pantry shelf life of 1 year!! Refrigeration required only after opening.
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Guilt Free Noodles!!
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# Zero Calories
# Soy Free
# Gluten Free
# Known for its health benefits for 2000 years in China and Japan, Shirataki is made from the root of a plant called the Konnyaku Imo.
# Shirataki is made only from the soluble fiber of the plant, as such it only contains a healthy soluble fiber known as Glucomannan. Since it is only made of soluble fiber it has Zero Calories.
# Shirataki Pasta absorbs the flavors of any sauce or dish you prepare.
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$2.99 for 3 servings:
Servings per Container-3 Serving Size - 84g Fat - 0 Protein - 0 Carbohydrate - 3g Soluble Fiber - 3g Sugar - 0 Zero Net Carbs, Pure Fiber

I've always been leary of empty food. Things like Coke Zero, Splenda and even this no-calorie Orzo kinda defeat the purpose of eating IMO. Eat what makes you healthy and stay away from what doesn't. Good find though, it may help others. I'll cook some Dreamfields for my wife this week and let ya'll know what she thinks. I've been very happy with my Zone 1-2-3 pasta, but she's not crazy about it and I'd been looking for something more "normal" that she can eat from the pantry anytime she wants pasta, and get the good parts about pasta without the nasty insulin spike

Hi John,

You can add protien to Zone 1-2-3 meals. Here are the suggested guidelines for grocery additions to the 1-2-3 plan: 

http://www.zonediet.com/GroceryAddi...fault.aspx

Hi -- these sound like the Tofu Shirataki noodles that I've been using. I believe they're Zone-favorable (Sue, let us know if I'm wrong on that !)

Products:

http://www.house-foods.com/Tofu/tof...ataki.aspx

Nutritional info:

http://www.house-foods.com/Tofu/products_detail.aspx?id=31

A pretty good article on the health benefits:

http://diet-food-trends.suite101.com/article.cfm/are_shirataki_noodles_a_miracle_food

... seems like the only drawback is that people may be eating too much of these, to the exclusion of foods with more nutrients, resulting in malnutrition. I don't think that's a concern for us if we eat Zone-favorably and balanced.

Laurie

However, I would not be able to add 3 oz of meat (includes fish) with a serving of ORZO; otherwise, I would be over the 3 block limit I set for my dinner, for example.  That was really my point. I like real food, esp real food protein with my meals, and since  Zone 1-2-3 foods already have protein, I would have to cut back on having and enjoying foods I eat.   Eating is not just about the nutrition for me.
.
P.S.> BTW - that link only allows a little dairy as added protein.
There is no mention or listing of real food protein added to Zone 1-2-3.
Yes, one could mix some Zone 1-2-3 and real food . . .  probably the best way to do it...

You must not have noticed it.  Protein additions are discussed at the bottom right of that page where you see the pictures of the chicken and fish.

IMO, adding protein to zone 1-2-3 products just makes a very expensive product even more expensive. Sure, you can add protein, but it is only recommended to add in condiment proportions--I think I read that this meant no more than 1 oz or block. Not enough meat in my meat sauce, IMO.

Steven, I think your wife will be pleased with Dreamfields. My kids can't tell the difference.

Our youngest daughter, though mostly healthy eating, tends to turn down some of our more healthy foods (like our low processed, organic milk).  She, too, can not tell the difference, and will eat the Dreamfields pasta.

I checked my blood sugar before and after I ate Dreamfields pasta. I didn't even eat a whole serving and ate it with 1 serving of plain tomato puree sauce with nothing added, and some lowfat ground turkey. I was leary of the actual carb count versus the digestible count, and good thing, because after this meal, even though I didn't eat all my carb requirements, my blood glucose was a lot higher than normal. I have not tried the Zone pasta so I can't comment on that. Apparently this pasta does not keep me in the Zone, and neither do Zone Perfect bars or the Zone cereal. I can't eat any of those without going over my acceptable glucose range. I can't stand the tofu shirataki noodles because of the texture and smell. I actually find I prefer to use spaghetti squash for noodles.

Debra, I actually like using spaghetti squash, too. 

I wonder if it was the Dreamfields or the tomato puree that cause the spike?  I think, if you are going to give it a fair shot, that you would probably want to test it alone.  Sometimes, tomato sauces spike me too.  But, on the other hand, I would not generally eat pasta by itself, so if the combination doesn't work, then it may not be worth it to test it further. 

I don't feel that the Zone cereal keeps me in the Zone, either, so I am not surprised with your result, there.  None of the bars keep me in the Zone, and the new line of breads and pastas don't keep me in the Zone. 

I found that Barilla has a higher protein pasta out there.  The total carb content is lower than a serving of traditional pasta, and there is more fiber.  Looks interesting to me, so maybe that is another one to test out...  haven't really experimented with it yet. 

Hi Laurie,

I don't know the official Zone Labs position on this food, but I don't think of them in terms of being Zone favorable.  You know the Zone saying, everything in moderation. I would apply that to this product too. 

Laurie,

I took a look at the link that you posted.  The 2 main ingredients that would contribute carb are tofu (soybeans) and yam flour.  With a total of 3 g carb (and 1-2 of those grams being fiber), it would more than likely be a zone-favorable food.  Even if you wanted to play it safe and keep it to the 25% rule, you would still be adding a ton of it to even meet the 25% (which one would probably not do IMO). 

If anyone is using this, I would look at it as almost a freebie... use a decent portion size of 2-3 oz, and then add some good zone-favorable veggies, make a delicous meat sauce, or whatever your heart desires.