Is our obsession with protein making us an unhappy generation?

I had a very interesting and eye-opening conversation with a psychologist recently. All the restlessness and anxiety I had been experiencing over the last two years seemed to have a reason, and it was right there on my daily meal plate.

As members of the internet generation, I’m sure many of you are familiar with the buzzword that’s been dominating conversations lately: protein. From adults to health-conscious teens following fitness influencers, the narrative is the same for most people - a protein-rich diet is the secret to better energy and a toned body.

But what if I told you something’s been missing from that plate?

I’m no one to hand out dietary advice; I’m not qualified to do that. But my recent dialogue with a psychologist made me realise that I might be carb deficient. That very deficiency could be playing a big role in my heightened anxiety and restlessness.

It made sense. Think about it - how many of us have started loading up on protein and silently pushing carbs off our plates in our quest to look skinny, lose weight, and fit into this perfect model-like image we have created for ourselves? Carbs have long been branded the villain in popular diet culture, impacting our health quite dangerously. Because not only do our bodies need carbs for a healthy body, but also for the mind.

For all of us, protein has become the Singham and carbs, Mogambo. Our children are simply following suit. I was at a party for a 13-year-old, and I noticed how a group of girls just picked up a couple of slices of cucumber and lettuce from a table laden with a variety of foods, while the rest of the children were busy eating and making merry. This really got me thinking.

Is this the reason the number of mental health cases is on the rise? Are we actually harming our children in the name of health without realising the detrimental impact it has on their long-term health? Where did this protein madness begin? Was it a marketing gimmick like all the other fads that have plagued us over the years?

But now that I am coming to understand the benefits of carbs on our daily plate too, how exactly do carbs affect our mood and mental well-being?

Here’s where it gets interesting. Carbohydrates actually help your brain produce serotonin, which is the “feel-good” chemical that keeps you calm, balanced, and emotionally stable. When you eat carbs, your body releases insulin, which in turn helps tryptophan (an amino acid) reach the brain, where it gets converted into serotonin. Interestingly, around 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut! That means what you eat has a direct impact on how you feel.

When I did my own research after my in-depth conversation with our doctor, I also read that people on very low-carb diets often report increased feelings of irritability, anxiety, and low mood. And the balanced traditional diet that our ancestors used to follow has the answer here. Our Indian “thaali” also includes moderate carbs - about 45–65% of our daily calories - which help regulate mood and reduce restlessness.

What our generation needed all this while has, in fact, been lying in the tin jars of our kitchen. Rice! Can you believe that rice has a very high dose of serotonin? Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes - these are all complex carbs, and they are an important contributor to our physical and mental health.

But not all carbs are equal, so don’t reward yourself with a slice of cake or a burger in the name of happiness.

So, what’s the takeaway?

Like most things in life, this is also about balance. In our effort to chase modern health goals, let’s not forget the basics. Our bodies and minds need protein, yes - but they also need the right kind of carbs. I’m now consciously making space for complex carbs on my plate, not just for my physical health, but also for emotional stability and mental well-being.

So, I would strongly suggest that if you’ve been feeling unusually tired, restless, or anxious lately, maybe don’t just look at your schedule or your lifestyle - sometimes, the missing piece isn’t in your routine, it’s in your nutrition.

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