Food News
This Dish Could be the Key to Happiness, According to Science
Photography by Foodivine Studio
Food News
This Dish Could be the Key to Happiness, According to Science
It's simple, affordable, comforting... and according to science, could make us happier than exercise!
A study conducted by the Behaviour & Brain Laboratory at the IULM University of Languages and Communication in Milan reveals that eating pasta can positively impact our emotional well-being. According to the researchers, enjoying a delicious pasta dish could be as enjoyable as listening to our favourite song!
A comfort food with proven effects
According to the data collected, 40 percent of participants identified pasta as a comfort food. When asked "When do you eat pasta?", the most common response was: "When I feel happy," with an average score of 4.54 out of 6.
This link between pasta and emotions is no coincidence: respondents often associate this dish with moments shared with family or friends. It's as much the flavours as the memories associated with these convivial meals that reinforce happiness.
A natural serotonin boost
Pasta also has a biological effect. It contains tryptophan, an amino acid that contributes to the production of serotonin, the famous "happy hormone." This chemical process, combined with the pleasure of taste, may explain why this dish does us so much good.
"It is therefore the act of fully tasting and savouring the dish that stimulates the most positive emotions and memories. This cognitive and emotional activation determined by the taste of pasta is so strong, pleasant, and engaging that it persists even a few moments after the meal," explains Vincenzo Russo, professor of consumer psychology and neuromarketing at IULM University.
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