Food & Taste

[Worm of Despite]

I've always wondered: why do humans have such varying taste differences? I mean, aren't our tongues all the same, and don't the foods we eat have the same properties? I mean, if two people eat a half from the same potato, one hates and the other loves it, then does that mean it's just something in the brain, subjective to each individual?

Perhaps it's the way we're raised and what foods we grow up surrounded with. I suppose the tastes we acquire are socialized into us and learned, much like the cultures and religions we're born into. I mean, perhaps someone hates chili now, but, perhaps if this person were reborn and raised in a family of chili cooks, his opinion of chili might be the exact opposite, eh?

[Nathan]

And why do different people like different music?
And why do some people find themselves attracted to different kinds of people?
And why do some people prefer playing computer games over "real" sports?
And why doesn't everyone have the same favourite colour?
And why doesn't everyone look the same?

Genetic variation and a lifetime of experience. Nature and nurture working in glorious synergy.

[Edge]

Warning: cliche ahead...

"There's no accounting for taste"

[Plissken]

It is an interesting question though -- why aren't we simply wired to enjoy the tastes of things that are good for us and not the things that're bad?

I mean, my body can be screaming out for iron, but it doesn't make brussel sprouts any better.

[Warmark]

Warning: cliche ahead...

"There's no accounting for taste"

[Alynna Lis Eachann]

We're not the only ones. Animals, especially domesticated ones, exhbit similar variations in what tastes they find acceptable or unacceptable. The same is true for wild and feral animals, but is not exhibited as much because those animals are generally lucky to find a meal at all, let alone one that tastes well.

I mean, my body can be screaming out for iron, but it doesn't make brussel sprouts any better.

I find that this is not true in my case. I hate liver, but when my body has an iron deficieny, I will absolutely crave it, and enjoy the taste. Once my body feels like it has enough iron, I can't stand the stuff again.

[matrixman]

But there's something going on here, right? How does your body know that liver contains the necessary iron, even if you may not consciously know that? I guess it's the same thing with pregnant women having sudden cravings for a particular food. They may not know the specific nutrient makeup of that food they crave, but their bodies know. It's pretty amazing. Listen to your body, as they say.

[dennisrwood]

I crave tomatoes all the time. i suspect a deficiency in vitamin c. it's like a fetish now.

I learned at volunteer orientation day at the zoo today that a panda can be offered around 400 lbs of bamboo in a day. we will sort through it and eat about 40 lbs. the pandas have favorites and sometimes those favorites change.

[nuk]

It's pretty amazing. Listen to your body, as they say.

I crave soda all the time. I must not be getting enough crap in my diet.

My biology prof(s?) told me that humans don't have a good ability to crave the nutrients they need. From personal experience, I'm inclined to believe them. Pregnant women might be a special case, though.

[Alynna Lis Eachann]

Your biology prof is right, from what I know... but I also know that I have very poor eating habits, and when I crave something, I genuinely need it: iron from liver, vitamin C and sugars from fruits and vegetables, protein from eggs (hence also my recent tofu cravings), muchrooms and pickels(though I have no diea what's in those) etc. I think humans only have nutrient cravings when their bodies are seriously out of whack.

As for pregnant women... no idea. Never been there. I did know someone who craved jalapenos when she was pregnant, though. We were at a team sorting or something, and she kept ordering nachos with jalapenos and saying, "These aren't so hot, are they?" And they were seriously hot, even to my usually dull palate. Weird.

[Vector]

the time. I must not be getting enough crap in my diet.

My biology prof(s?) told me that humans don't have a good ability to crave the nutrients they need. From personal experience, I'm inclined to believe them. Pregnant women might be a special case, though.

Your biology prof is right, from what I know... but I also know that I have very poor eating habits, and when I crave something, I genuinely need it: iron from liver, vitamin C and sugars from fruits and vegetables, protein from eggs (hence also my recent tofu cravings), muchrooms and pickels(though I have no diea what's in those) etc. I think humans only have nutrient cravings when their bodies are seriously out of whack.

As for pregnant women... no idea. Never been there. I did know someone who craved jalapenos when she was pregnant, though. We were at a team sorting or something, and she kept ordering nachos with jalapenos and saying, "These aren't so hot, are they?" And they were seriously hot, even to my usually dull palate. Weird.

I tend to have a mixed opinion on this, I think the trick is differentiating between genuine cravings and simple compulsions - and these can be hard to distinguish.

However, I feel that if I pay attention I can tell when my body really says it needs something, or when I have a compulsion because I am bored, or I remember the satisfaction of a craving and am hoping to duplicate it, even though I may not be truly craving it at the time.

Then again, there are addictions - which manifest themselves as true cravings...

[lurch]

...First of all..its widely believed that there are 4 ...wait minute,,before we even go there..taste is actually smell..yessir,,what you and I call taste is actually perceived and messaged to the brain thru the same receptors as what we smell with,,according to an article in Nat Geo about a year or two ago on smell. The sad truth is that our ability to smell has diminished as we have little need for it inorder to survive. We don't need to smell the Lion in the grass ahead of us,,because the grass is kept cut and manicured by the lawn keepers these days,,hence our smell has gone kaput!

Anyway, there is belief that there are 4 basic tastes/smells..sweet, salt,,bitter,,and sour. Everything is a combination of those four afterwards. Wine, Cigar, and Perfume folks tend to have faith in that belief. In each of those fields, there are " standards". So, subjectivity is kept to a minimum.

In each of those fields , a product that delights the Professional has to pass thru the connisoure down to the mass market eventually if the product is meant to. How does that happen? Education, thats how. Take a look at all teh Wine magazines, Cigar magazines and ,,well I don't know about Perfumes. I have heard that the Nose'es of perfume Labs are a very secretive lot. I imagine there is Trade publications tho. Point is,,look how much is being spent for America ,,and the world, to become educated about their favorite " taste/smell" experiences.

It is a matter of education. To be able to seperate( if possible) the various attributes of a wine,,and then determine how many years it may need in storage before being ready to consume,,is truelly backed by education. A cigar,,a handmade Cigar , is much the same. The write ups in the magazine , reviews if you will,,are by educated tasters. They have learned how to prepare, and taste/smell. They have learned how to dilineate flavor profile. They also write articles on how You and I can Learn to taste and smell for fuller enjoyment of everything we pass thru our gums and nasal passages.

I use to gag on asparagas. Today, i really enjoy steamed aspargas. I am no asparagas aficionado, El Centro is where all my consumption comes from. But I do enjoy it. There is subjectivity involved. But to overcome the prejudice of subjectivety, perhaps a little education can help.

Experiencing something without the prejudice of the past,,with a educated , open minded perspective, can change even what we hate to taste to something we may like. Olive oil is another great example. Alot of folks, go,,ooohh yekkkk, oiley olive oil!..I mean,,how many people believe the basic ingredient,,olive,,is an acquired taste?,,well,, try this with FRESH olive oil..doesn't matter, lite, medium, heavy. virgin, extra virgin,,take a spoonful of it,,or a little less,,insert into mouth,,and slurp it..breath in with force enough for the oil to be aero-ated. Now,,you have tasted olive oil. Sample the many different types of olive oil and you start becoming eductated. Some are peppery, others are nutty, others are buttery,, etc, etc.

So, yes, there is a subjectivety to taste. But once you get a educated taster/smeller...like any education,,it can't be taken away from you. If you want to say everything is subjective,,and therefore weird and wonderful,,okay,,but don't be afraid to take it up a notch,, for a whole new experience..........MEL

[Avatar]

Let's not forget the fact also that as we age, our tastes change. Tastebuds die off, and others become utilised instead.

Tastebuds become jaded through over-exposure, dulled by other things we consume, and yes, as Lurch says, our changing sense of smell affects the way things taste as well.

Really, I think that the accepted bit of wisdom that Edge quoted is all of the truth.

Me? I'm fussy as hell. It'd be faster to list the things I do like than those I don't.

--Avatar