According to a study, eating pasta is good for morale

Comforting, nourishing and succulent… Pasta is the wellness dish par excellence that we love to prepare in every season and that satisfies our stomach.. Containing gluten, they have had a very bad reputation in recent years and are recommended to be consumed in moderation. But beyond this aspect, what are the health benefits of pasta? Scientists from “Behavior and brain laboratory” of the Free University of Languages ​​and Communication IULM of Milan have studied the issue, and it turns out that spaghetti, tortellini and other derivatives not only fill us up but also give us a little happiness.

A happiness at least equal to that of listening to music

To do this, the researchers used both neuroscientific methodologies but also lie detector-like brain monitoring on 40 subjects aged between 25 and 55 who were not gluten intolerant.

The study thus identified the type of emotional reaction and the degree of involvement of the subjects in tasting pasta dishes, compared to some of their favorite activities such as listening to music, watching a football or tennis match. Their research therefore confirmed that eating pasta causes a positive emotional and cognitive state with results equal to or even better than those recorded with music and sport.

But why does pasta make you happy?

So the question is: why does pasta make us happy? There can be two very distinct answers to this question.

Thanks to tryptophan

Pasta contains tryptophan, an amino acid used to make our proteins and more specifically a certain neurotransmitter, called serotonin. The latter, also called the happiness hormone, is “particularly involved in the regulation of behavior, mood, anxiety and even learning. It would also be involved in motivation and decision making”second the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute.

It would also be converted into melatonin, the sleep hormone. Good quality sleep is closely linked to better mental well-being.

A moment of sharing and comfort

The scientists from the Free University of Languages ​​and Communication also asked test participants when they would be most likely to eat pasta? The answer that generated the highest score was simply: “when I feel happy”. In Italy the consumption of pasta is closely linked to moments of sharing with family and friends. 40% of those interviewed also identified this dish as a comforting and well-being food.

When was the last time you ate it?

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