---
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
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## Video: Should I Eat Potatoes?
[Watch (HLS stream): Should I Eat Potatoes?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Qvl4qujO.m3u8) (1:19)
_Published 2015-03-18. Should you eat potatoes? Here's why 5/5 health experts told us yes -- as long as you don't turn them in to french fries or a sour cream delivery vehicle._
by
[Kevin McSpadden](https://time.com/author/kevin-mcspadden/)
## Kevin McSpadden
May 29, 2015 9:12 AM UTC
Bread, Slices And Bread Knife. (Photo By: MyLoupe/UIG Via Getty Images)
Bread, Slices And Bread Knife. (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. 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. Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
## Transcript
[ MUSIC ] Should you eat potatoes? Five out of five experts say yes. Potatoes are the most consumed vegetable in America, but some tater haters think they're fattening. [ MUSIC ] That's not true, according to a study by Britt Burton- Freeman. She found that potatoes don't actually contribute to weight gain. In truth, they're low in calories and satiating, says Trudy Voortman. A naked, plain white potato has 36 % of your daily vitamin C, [ MUSIC ] 27 % of your potassium and 14 % of your fiber just don't turn it into a french fry or a sour cream delivery vehicle says David Katz. They are starchy though, potatoes land high on the glycemic index which means they'll raise your blood sugar levels and insulin levels quickly.
[ MUSIC ] You can blunt those effects by eating them with high- fiber foods like beans, says Dan Ramdath. [ MUSIC ] And don't forget about purple potatoes, says Kristin Kirkpatrick. They may help lower blood pressure naturally. And may even ward off certain types of cancers. So go forth and bake with a newfound love for the spud. [ MUSIC ]
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