Have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult to cut back on carbohydrates in your diet? Why do bread and pasta seem so irresistible? The answer might lie deep in our genes and the history of human evolution, which began more than 800,000 years ago.

Recent studies suggest that our ability to digest starch, a key component of carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, emerged long before modern agriculture. Early genetic adaptations, which allowed us to process starch more efficiently, significantly impacted the evolution of our diet and, consequently, our metabolic health.

Research from the University of Buffalo and the Jackson Laboratory has uncovered a fascinating aspect of human histor...