A Potential Strategy to Improve the Nutritional Status of Consumers: The Nutritional Value of Pasta Fortified with Super Seeds

Abstract

Seeds are highly nutritious food. They are small in size but are rich in various beneficial nutrients like complex carbs, healthy fats, plant-based proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, phenols and flavonoids. Seeds also possess antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties which help in the prevention of many diseases. Pasta can be supplemented with a variety of super seed powders to boost nutritional content, functioning, or to make up for nutritional deficits. In present study pasta had been enriched with powder of 5 super seeds, including Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, muskmelon seeds, poppy seeds, and flax seeds which had been used in replacement of white flour. Pasta was intended for people of all ages, with a focus on those with co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease, lung illness, constipation, obesity, hypertension, bone disorders, diabetes, ulcers, and cancer. The proximate analysis of pasta and super seeds for moisture content, ash content, crude fat, crude protein, and fiber has been analyzed through suitable statistical tool. Moisture content of seed was 4.5±0.20 while pasta moisture content was 30±0.2, ash content of seeds was 4.8±0.1 while pasta ash content was 42.6±0.28, crude fat content of seeds was 37±0.1 while pasta fat content was 13.95±0.07 in proximate analysis Conclusion leads that super seed powder is nutritionally very beneficial and rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants and helps to overcome with many health issues.