How many times have you heard a friend say she's "cutting carbs" to lose weight?

Elimination of bread, pasta, and other painfully delicious foods has widely been accepted as a rule if you want to cut inches–just ask Paleo, gluten-free, and Atkins devotees (hi, Kim Kardashian).

A new study, however, reveals that pasta, easily one of the most difficult to give up, is not evil after all.

23,000 (!) people were analyzed based on their eating habits by the Department of Epidemiology at the Institute for Research, Hospitalization, and Health Care Neuromed in Pozzilli, Italy.

The researchers saw that pasta consumption was actually associated with reduced likelihood of obesity and a decrease in BMI.

"Our data show that enjoying pasta according to individuals' needs contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference, and better waist-hip ratio," George Pounis, first author of the paper wrote.

The report claimed that banning pasta completely from a diet is not a "correct attitude," especially considering how "fundamental" it is to the tradition of a Mediterranean diet (which has time and again been proved as one of the healthiest).

The researchers, however, do emphasize that this is only true when pasta is "consumed in moderation." Of course.

Bottom line: take a cue from the newly enlightened Jennifer Aniston and let carbonara back into your life.