Eat carbohydrates, be happy

Now here’s a surprise: a new study has found that low-carbohydrate diets make you grumpy. Comparing the emotional states of people of weight-watchers on low-carb diets and those eating more carbohydrates over the course of a year, scientists from the CSIRO, South Australia University and Flinders University found that the second group were considerably happier.

Well, der. I could have told them that without the paperwork, number crunching and hassle of waiting around for 12 months.

Carbohydrates aren’t just our bodies’ favourite form of fuel but they form the base of oooh, I don’t know, 90% of all failsafe comfort food dishes... Mashed potatos? Carbs. Pasta? Carbs. Pastry? Carbs? Bread? Carbs? Sugar? Carbs.

As it happens I wouldn’t call myself a big consumer of carbohydrates but take them away completely and you bet I’m going to get unhappy.

According to yesterday’s SMH, researcher Jonathan Buckley said the difference in mood may reflect how tricky it is to comply with a low-carb diet here in Australia, where the typical diet is about 50% carbohydrate.

''If you're eating a low-carb diet and you're out with friends at a restaurant, it might be more difficult to stick with that diet because restaurants don't offer many other options,'' said Buckley.

Hmmm, maybe. Or maybe it’s because low carb options are just so unsatisfying, as anyone who’s ordered a “burger” in America only to have a meat patty in a lettuce leaf arrive, will tell you.

Eating a healthy amount of carbs doesn’t have to mean disaster for your diet either. Carbs aren’t in themselves fattening; it’s the creamy, cheesy, buttery ingredients we often enjoy with them that do the damage. In the CSIRO study, people in both groups lost an average of 13.7 kilograms each over the course of the year.

Pass the breadsticks, I say.