1. It's part of a good diet
Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish and poultry. It's a good source of energy and can give you fiber too. If it's made from whole grain, that can help with stomach problems and may help lower cholesterol. Try some tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and truffle oil.
2. It makes you less 'hangry'
It's filling which means it can curb your desire for food for a long time. That'll make you less likely to get snuppy or grumpy - you know 'hangry'. Try a round pasta called orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe, a traditional Italian dish with a red chili kick.
3. It's affordable
The basic ingredients are simple and cheap: flour, water, salt, and maybe some eggs. Whether you make your own or buy it at the store, pasta is a great way to feed the family without breaking the bank. Try a traditional spaghetti Bolognese - the meat simmers in milk and then wine.
4. It's versatile
You can serve it as a starter, a side dish or the main event. How about a pasta salad with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and olives? It's tangy and delicious and you don't have to make it at the last minute.
5. It's easy to make
Keep some fresh angel hair pasta in the freezer for quick meals. Once the pot of water boils, you're pretty much done: Because it's so thin, the pasta cook in seconds. Toss it in a pan with some olive oil, black pepper and pecorino cheese for a traditional Roman dish: angel hair cacio e pepe.
6. There are a million shapes
OK not literally a million, but you get the idea: bow ties, shells, ribbons, tubes, bowls and ravioli that hold fillings from butternut squash to wild boar and more. This opens endless possibilities for dinner, even if you have just a few minutes. For something unusual, try some rigatoni with eggplant puree.
7. It may help prevent cancer
Whole-grain pasta can give you all sorts of health benefits. It has several things that can help protect you against certain kinds of cancer, especially stomach and colon cancer. For a special treat, try spaghetti carbonara with whole-grain pasta. But don't make this rich dish a regular meal. It's made with bacon, butter, egg yolk and Parmesan cheese. It's like mac and cheese for grown-ups. With bacon!
8. It can help you lose weight
Pasta has gotten a bad rap because of its carbohydrates. But research shows that carbs don't keep you from losing weight - as long as you don't overdo it. In fact, in one study, people who ate pasta as part of a Mediterranean diet had a lower body mass index (BMI) - a measure of your body fat based on your height and weight - than those who din't. They also had less belly fat (which is worse than other fat). Fresh-cut tomatoes with garlic and basil and a touch of olive oil work well on any pasta for a healthy meal.
9. It doesn't have much salt
Too much of this mineral can play a role in heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. Pasta is low in it, but that won't matter if you add it back in the sauce. Spicy penne arrabiata has plenty of punchy flavour without any salt.
10. It's low in fat
Pasta had just over half a gram of fat per serving. Of cause, all that goes out the window if you drench your noodles in butter, cheese and olive oil. A simple farfalle - 'bow tie' pasta - with marinara and basil makes a healthy, light and satisfying meal. But keep that sprinkling of Parmesan to a minimum.
11. It helps keep blood sugar in check
They glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how fast sugar gets into your bloodstream. Healthy diets that include food with a low GI may help prevent diabetes and obesity, and pasta has a low GI. Try some tortellini en brodo: It has a delicious ground meat filling and the broth will fill you up with fewer calories.
12. It has a long shelf life
You're unlikely to waste it, whether it's dried and packaged from the supermarket shelf or fresh-frozen in you freezer. It keeps for months either way. So the next time you get a craving for spaghetti and meatballs, the main ingredient will be waiting for you.
13. It can be gluten-free
Demand has spawned a new category of pastas made from corn, rice and even quinoa. For an exotic take, try gluten-free linguine pescatore, an Italian dish made with a mix of seafood that can include mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp and fish in a tomato sauce. No parmesan, though - Italians typically keep their fish and cheese separate.
14. You can eat it for dessert
Kugel - a simple baked noodle dish made with sour cream, cinnamon, raisins and sugar - originated in Eastern Europe and is one of the great comfort foods of all time. Use it as a sweet side dish or serve it as dessert - it's just as delicious either way.
