Why do we love carbs? The origins predate agriculture and maybe even our split from Neanderthals Study co-led by

 Our love for carbohydrates likely has deep evolutionary roots, according to a study co-led by researchers exploring human dietary habits. The preference for carbs predates the advent of agriculture and may even go back to our shared ancestors with Neanderthals.

The study suggests that early humans and their ancestors relied heavily on starchy foods like roots and tubers, which were an abundant and reliable energy source. This preference for carbohydrates may have played a crucial role in brain development, as glucose from carbs is a primary fuel for the brain. Even before the development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers likely sought out carb-rich plants for their high caloric content, helping them survive in varying environments.

Interestingly, genetic evidence indicates that Neanderthals also had a capacity to digest starches, implying that this dietary trait was shared before the evolutionary split between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. This co-evolution of starch consumption and digestion points to its significance in human survival and cognitive development long before the dawn of farming societies. 

The study was co-led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and other collaborating institutions, highlighting the intersection of archaeology, genetics, and evolutionary biology in understanding human dietary preferences.