It’s no wonder carbs are a classic comfort food. The effect of carbohydrates on our mood has been known for centuries. Apparently, when Marco Polo brought pasta back from China, Emperor Fredrick III described pasta using the Greek word “makarios”, which means “happy”.

—I learned about this fact from: Toussain-Samat, M. A History of Food. Wiley-Blackwell: UK, 2009. Fernstron JD and Wurtman RJ. 1971. Brain serotonin content: increase following ingestion of carbohydrate diet. Science, 174:1023-1024.