Yes, Pasta Really Does Make You Happier (Science Says So)

While a bad day can often be remedied by talking to a loved one or going for a walk, there is one cure that's scientifically proven to boost your mood: eating pasta. A new study conducted by the Behavioral and Brain Lab at the Free University of Languages and Communication IULM found that eating a plate of pasta causes a positive emotional-cognitive state.

To obtain their findings, IULM researchers analyzed facial expressions, emotional brain activations, heart rate variation, and micro perspiration of 40 subjects between 25 and 55 years old as they ate pasta. The study identified the type of emotional reaction the participants had while tasting a plate of pasta in comparison to listening to their favorite songs or watching a sporting event.

The researchers found that eating pasta causes a positive emotional-cognitive state with the same results (if not higher) than those recorded while listening to music and watching sports. Researchers also note that the emotional experience of tasting one’s favorite pasta is equal to that generated by the reenactment of happy memories.

"Through this study, science has put itself at the service of emotions to certify that pasta and happiness are one," Vincenzo Russo, professor of consumer psychology and neuromarketing at IULM University, said in a press release. "The results tell us that it is precisely when we eat pasta that we are most emotionally active. It is, therefore, the real act of tasting and savoring the dish in its full flavor to stimulate the most positive memories and emotions."

Participants were also asked, "When do you eat pasta?" and the most common response was, "When I feel happy." Moreover, when asked how happy eating pasta made the participants feel, 76 percent of the sample said, "A lot."

Despite the encouraging findings, more research is needed to confirm the connection between pasta and a positive emotional-cognitive state. The study had some limitations, such as the small subject pool and the fact that it has not yet been peer-reviewed. But despite these factors, we can't think of a better reason to eat more pasta.