Carb-phobic? Know someone who is? Do you or someone you know tend to get slightly hysterical about the horrors of bread? Is there high drama and a big production of eschewing the potatoes at the Thanksgiving table, as if carb-cutting were akin to godliness? Gets on our nerves a little (actually, a lot)… But, yes, sure enough, they tend to lose weight.
Here’s the thing. Lots of diets work. But new science tells us that cutting carbs may in fact lead to increased levels of depression and anxiety. That’s right, bi-yatches, hang on to your bialys: eating bread may actually improve your mental health.
It’s the stuff of life: ancient, simple, fragrant, satisfying, CHEAP. Turns out it may also increase the production of serotonin in the brain.
Saying bye-bye Prozac, hello pizza?
More research is needed, but a recent Boston Globe article cited a study comparing the mood levels of two dieting groups. One group ate low-fat/high-carb; the other ate high-fat, low-carb. People in both groups lost weight. But:
“… after a year on the diet, the people who ate less fat and more carbs continued to report feeling happier and less depressed and anxious than they had before. The other dieters, who ate more fat and less carbohydrates, felt their moods decline from the early rise they had noted.”
Well, well! Seems food may do more for neurochemistry than previously imaged. And we like the sound of this, smitten as we are with an incredible cookbook by Jim Lahey, My Bread. His no-knead dough technique is easy as hell (click here to link to his basic bread recipe in the NY Times), and yields the most gorgeous, most crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside loaves imaginable.
So be happy.
Make bread.
Then eat it.
4 comments
Maggie at Eat Boutique says:
Dec 9, 2009
Isn’t Jim’s bread recipe just the best? Thanks for including us in your post! 🙂
Maggie
Maggie May says:
Dec 9, 2009
Well, since my three favorite foods are cheese, potatoes and chocolate, not sure whether I can go with the no fat, high carb option…but thinking about a 4 p.m. daily cracker pick me up – wish they suggested cookies or cake.
admin says:
Dec 9, 2009
A Maggie morning.
Maggie at Eat Boutique: We found the recipe a few years back and are so delighted to have his cookbook! It is the easiest to make, and the best bread to eat–ever!
Maggie May (a faithful fan, if ever there was one): Indulge yourself. A little cookie or cake never hurt a gal!
Samantha Mathews says:
Feb 6, 2010
This is a really awesome recipe and easy to make it successfully. You have to try!!!!! Yummy!!!! I have a cooking recipe site as well and I’d like to exchange links with you. Let me know if this is possible. Thanks.