People trying to lose weight tend to skip the carbs, but a recent Italian study shows that it should be the opposite.

Researchers comparing 23,000 people's daily eating habits found that there is no link between eating pasta and gaining weight. According to them it is actually the opposite. The nutritionists also concluded that a Mediterranean diet based on pasta, vegetables and olive oil is one of the healthiest diets.

As part of the study, participants had to report everything they ate in a day. The amount of pasta was then recorded by the interviewer. The results were compared with each participant’s body mass index, waist and hip measurements.

Consumption of pasta, contrary to what many think, is not associated with an increase in body weight, rather the opposite.

Main researcher and study author George Pounis explained that "our data shows that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio.”