--- title: Research Suggests We're Better Off Eating More Carbs and Less Protein description: Australian researchers found that, in mice, a low-protein high-carb diet produced benefits in terms of insulin, blood sugar, and cholesterol canonical: https://time.com/3901175/diet-health-paleo-carbs-protein-carbohydrates-calorie-restriction/ author: Kevin McSpadden article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-05-29T09:12:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:11.194Z article:section: Health og:title: We Could Be Better Off Eating More Carbs og:description: New research won't please the Paleo crowd og:url: https://time.com/3901175/diet-health-paleo-carbs-protein-carbohydrates-calorie-restriction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte8a5603966d294f9/698852202dce012b6f9e3efe/carbs-diet.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3293 og:image:height: 1852 og:image:alt: Bread, Slices And Bread Knife og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: We Could Be Better Off Eating More Carbs twitter:description: New research won't please the Paleo crowd twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte8a5603966d294f9/698852202dce012b6f9e3efe/carbs-diet.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Research on Mice Suggests We Could Be Better Off Eating More Healthy Carbs and Less Protein > Sponsored content. 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(Photo By: MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images) Getty Images by [Kevin McSpadden](https://time.com/author/kevin-mcspadden/) ## Kevin McSpadden May 29, 2015 9:12 AM UTC While calorie-restriction diets are known to have positive health benefits, a group of researchers in Australia has [found](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub%5Freleases/2015-05/cp-boc052115.php) that, in mice, a low-protein high-carbohydrate diet produces similar results regardless of caloric intake. If the study bears out for humans, it could rehabilitate the image of carbohydrates, which has taken a battering in recent years, when the high-protein Atkins and Paleo diets have reigned supreme. Scientists at the University of Sydney put mice on varying diets in terms of the proportion of carbohydrates, protein and total calories consumed. They found that, in terms of insulin, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, mice on unrestricted low-protein high-carb diets fared best. “It still holds true that reducing food intake and body weight improves metabolic health and reduces the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease,” said senior author Stephen Simpson of the University of Sydney. “However…it appears that including modest intakes of high-quality protein and plenty of healthy carbohydrates in the diet will be beneficial for health as we age.” The next step, according to the scientists, will be to learn if specific types of proteins and carbohydrates make a difference in long-term health. ### QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?  Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet? Getty Images (4)  Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat. Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter? Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME  Answer: Butter Serving size for spray butters (even low-calorie ones) are around a 1/3 second spray. What on earth does that mean? You're better off using a small amount of real butter as opposed to guessing how much you're using of the mystery melange of up to 20 ingredients. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: A turkey burger or a sirloin burger? Getty Images (2) ![Answer: Sirloin burger
Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you \(and for the record, they aren't low-fat\). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte1b297940ae4e4e0/6986970ce53aba0cb54d318e/sirloin-burger.gif?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp) Answer: Sirloin burger Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you (and for the record, they aren't low-fat). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: Almonds or pretzels? Getty Images (2)  Answer: Almonds Almonds are high in protein, fiber and fat and will keep you feeling fuller longer. Give high-sodium pretzels about an hour and you'll feel hungry again thanks to the high-carb no-fat or protein content. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: Special K or eggs? AP; Getty Images  Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing? Tara Johnson for TIME  Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt. Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate? Getty Images (2)  Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead. Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME  Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt? Tara Johnson for TIME  Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein. 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