Scientists pinpoint the origins of humanity's love of carbs

The love for carbohydrates by modern humans may stretch back beyond our species' origin, as new findings suggest. Long-held beliefs depicted ancient diets as heavily reliant on meat to support brain growth, but new archaeological insights challenge this view. Evidence points to early humans consuming carbohydrates like tubers and starches far before organized agriculture emerged.

Recent research examined the genomes of ancient humans and focused on a gene, AMY1, which facilitates starch digestion. Results indicated hunter-gatherers, dating back 45,000 years, held multiple AMY1 gene copies, signifying an early inclination for carbohydrates. Additionally, Neanderthals and Denisovans also possessed this gene duplication 800,000 years ago, suggesting a random genetic event allowed more efficient adaptation to starch-rich diets. 

These insights propose that carbohydrates, not proteins, may have fueled early brain size increase. The study further revealed a steep rise in AMY1 copies over the past 4,000 years, coinciding with the agricultural shift. While further genomic testing is necessary, initial findings emphasize the evolutionary advantage offered by starch-accessible diets and the potential role of carbohydrates in human development.