Linda Lipshutz, MS, ACSW: Why Do We Hate Single Dads?
'16 & Pregnant' Dad Apologizes To Infant Son
Your kid may not be making excuses when she says that broccoli tastes bad
Filed under: Nutrition: Health
Two recent studies (one published in the 84th volume of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and another funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders) both conclude that people with sensitive taste buds cannot stomach the flavors produced by foods that contain glucosinolates. Glucosinolates are found in broccoli, bok choi, kohlrabi, turnips, Brussels sprouts, mustard and other foods with a bitter or sharp taste. It's possible that some glucosinolates help prevent cancer, even though they can also be toxic. From an article at NutraIngredients.com:
'Scientists have long assumed that bitter taste evolved as a defence mechanism to detect potentially harmful toxins in plants. And the research, published in the September 19 issue of the journal Current Biology (Vol. 16, R792-R794), claims to be the first paper to provide direct evidence in support of this hypothesis.'
The NIDCD's study took three groups of people with sensitive, insensitive and intermediate bitter taste receptors and found that the group with the sensitive taste buds rated the glucosinolate foods as 60% more bitter than those with insensitive taste buds, while the groups rated the non-glucosinolate foods equally bitter.
What does this all mean? Well, I suppose it means that we inherit our like or dislike of foods like broccoli, and perhaps not everything that is good for you will taste good to you.
I'd like to see a study of women with severe morning sickness and see if they have sensitive taste buds, too.
(Thanks to Amanda for the tip!)
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
10-05-2006 @ 5:29PM
Janice said...I've been a "super taster" all my life...sensitive taste buds. I guess the good thing is that I also can't stand the bitter taste of beer so I never got into the habit of drinking. I have to smother broccoli with something else,can't get near artichokes, asparagus, brussel sprouts and the like. Some softdrinks even taste bitter, like Cherry 7Up. It tastes more like the cough medicines I used to take as a kid.
It also lets me taste foods when I'm stuffed up. It takes a really really bad head cold for me not to be able to taste all but the blandest foods.
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10-05-2006 @ 6:10PM
Lillian said...I love most veggies and fruits, but the two I cannot stand are bell peppers (any kind of bell pepper, doesn't matter if it's green, yellow, red, or white) and coconuts (even fresh, non-fake tasting coconut). Both tastes make me gag, sometimes they make me vomit. I know that it is the taste and not a food allergy, because when something like coconut rum is mixed into a drink where the coconut flavor and smell is muted, I'm fine. Isn't that weird? I wonder what causes it!
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10-05-2006 @ 6:35PM
BUCK MUDBONE said...COMING FROM A HEALTH CONCIOUS FAMILY I ALWAYS ATE GREENS AND LOVED THEM.....HOWEVER MY BOYS HAD A REAL HARD TIME WITH EATING VEGETABLES LIKE BROCCOLLI,ASPARAGUS,SPINACH AND SO ON UNTIL WE MOVED TO LIBERIA AND THEY COULD NOT STOMACH THE LOCAL CUISINE.(NEITHER COULD I!!!) WE ATE IN ABUNDANCE FRESH GREEN VEGETABLES AND CHICKEN! NOW THEY WILL NOT EVEN TOUCH FAST FOOD OR JUNK.....THEY TOTALLY RETRAINED IN WHAT THEY ATE. ALTHOUGH THEY DAMN NEAR STARVED ;SO DID I....IT SOMETIMES TAKE THAT TO CHANGE YOUR TASTES!
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10-05-2006 @ 7:16PM
MusicalOne said...All this talk about raw potatos... My mom always told me if I ate raw potatos worms would grow in my stomach. *sigh* Did she lie to me? :) Same with watermelon seeds. I'd have a patch of watermelons in my stomach. But you know what? I still think about both every, single time I'm faced with either food. And speaking of food textures, I can't stomach cottage cheese or chunky strawberry jelly. Nope, not going to happen! Put any veggie in front of me and I'll eat it right up, but not cottage cheese or the jelly.
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10-05-2006 @ 8:30PM
Therese Lang said...Brussle sprouts and aparagus...NIX. Even prep suggestions above can't entice me. I was made to eat EVERYTHING put in front of me...and I did. At age 65, I still HATE what I hated as a child. I VAGUELY remember that when my mother put (think it was white sauce on asparagus) I could eat the TOPS, with some semblence of ease. The rule was that we HAD to taste everything...and were alway conjoled into a second or third 'bite.' Never liked spinach or brocolli much either, BUT, I find BOTH enjoyable IF they are steamed, buttered (with Smart Balance) and sprinkled with Parmesean Cheese. Found out, by mistake, that the that seeps out of the spinach, is surprisingly TASTY, when separated from the 'bulk.' Seems that the Smart Balance, salt, pepper, and cheese combine well. Go figure!!! Throwing some steamed brocolli in to macaroni and cheese is ok too.
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10-09-2006 @ 9:29AM
Jody said...I find it funny that I hear the same comments from people about the inability to eat certain things can be changed with a little training or hiding or shredding or cheese. As I have said in a previous post my twins have this wonderful problem so severely that they cannot even stand to be around smells of food. Like Pizza. What kid in the world cannot or won't eat pizza. Last night one of then covered his nose with his shirt to keep the pizza smell out. It is no joke. It is a very distressful problem and there is no cure and there are no studies being done.
I used to have everyone telling me oh just force them or don't make anything special for them. Guess what they won't eat. They won't!!!!!!!! My family has finally learned this.
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