We have 5 primary taste sensations: Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter and Umami. Our ability to taste depends on the molecules set free when we chew or drink. Hundreds of substances, mostly found in plants, taste bitter and a little bitterness makes food interesting and very healthy. Antioxidants, which aid metabolism and help the body ward off cancer, account for much of the bitter taste of kale, arugula, dark chocolate and coffee.
At birth we have about 10,000 taste buds, and every 2 weeks these taste buds expire and regenerate like other cells in the body. The good news is you can train your taste buds to prefer different foods with repeated exposure to new foods. Say what?! Think of coffee as a good example. Most people don’t like the bitter taste at first but acquire the taste when repeatedly drinking it.
When the body isn’t flooded with CRAP, carrots and cabbage will start to taste sweet. Imagine that! Are you ready to change those taste buds and start enjoying whole foods? Ever wish you could get as excited about a crunchy salad as you do about chips, fries, or pretzels? Eating food, you don’t like may sound masochistic, but it could be the key to changing your mind (and health).
The best way to start liking a new food is to keep trying it. Just a small amount on your plate is a good start. So, keep trying those artichokes. If you don’t like it boiled, try it roasted or in soup. A lot of the way in which we taste food comes from our mind and the expectations that we build up around food. We often form opinions about food as children, and don’t challenge them as adults. But we can change the way we experience foods.
Studies have shown that associative conditioning, pairing foods with liked flavors, can increase liking of a food. One of the simplest ways is to add veggies to a plate of pasta or rice. Trying to eat too many new things in a short period of time will likely result in you giving up. It’s important not to change too much at once. As most of our food-related habits are subconscious, to change our food behaviors requires conscious effort. Taste one new flavor at a time and take breaks.
If you imagine veggies tasting delicious before you eat them, they are much more likely to taste good. You’ve got to think these foods into a tasty and positive bite. The brain is an incredibly powerful tool, and it can help you overcome your food phobias. Don’t push yourself too hard. Just move slowly, from one food to another, and eventually you’ll find veggies you enjoy.
Lastly, if you don’t have any healthy food around, you’re much more likely to reach for crap. Keep healthy snacks nearby and over time you might start craving them. It might not be easy to retrain your palette, but it is absolutely possible. A study measuring peoples’ reactions to foods with MRI scans of their brains, found giving participants a healthier diet led to increased desire for healthy food and decreased desire for less healthy food.
This is part of what I teach clients in my 8 Step Nutrition Program. Want to learn more? You can find the program here: https://thewholefoodnut.com/8-step-nutrition-program/
I actually love this excuse as there is nothing more fun (to me) than sharing all of the healthy options that are available to you!
After we do the Kitchen Cleanse in Step #2, we tackle what to replace it with in Step #4 Healthy Food Swap.
Then you take what you've learned in Step #3 Grocery Store Guidance and go to the store with confidence and healthy conviction.
In my 8 Step Nutrition Program, we discuss how to read food labels, review the best areas of the store to target, how to prepare before leaving, and provide you with a list of healthy whole foods to find.
So you can conquer that excuse like a boss when you head out to the grocery store and take ownership of your health.
Adding compost to your garden helps to enrich the soil with nutrients for plant growth. Compost bacteria break down organics into plant available nutrients. The bacteria, fungi, insects and worms support healthy plant growth and who doesn't want that?!
I'm ending this healthy video series on a high note with me on the toilet discussing poop and the benefits of chewing your food!
We are more than just a long pipe with 2 holes. Your body does amazing things with the food that you eat. It takes whole foods, turns it into energy and nutrients which allows the body to function, grow and repair.
Digestion is how the body processes food and eliminates food waste. Metabolism is how the cells utilize the energy that’s absorbed from food during digestion.
Did you know that digestion begins in the brain? When you think, see, smell, or taste food, salivary glands kick in and your stomach gets the signal to prepare for food.
We have 3 salivary glands in the mouth with enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions. These enzymes chemically breakdown food in your mouth, before you even swallow it. How cool is that?!
That initial breakdown of food in the mouth is a crucial step, which is why it’s so important to adequately chew your food.
The importance of chewing for digestion is often overlooked. Healthy digestion and nutrient absorption start with chewing.
The things you eat are turned into the building blocks for literally every cell in your body. Eat well and your body will not only function properly but flourish.
Chewing your food 20 to 30 times per bite gives enzymes enough time to start the breakdown on a chemical level. Chewing is necessary to expose food to as much surface area as possible so that enzymes can begin digestion. If food is not chewed thoroughly, it puts a stress on the digestive system. So listen to your mother and chew your food.
Enough about saliva, digestion and chewing. Grab that bag of popcorn, sit back and enjoy the video! If you learned something, please share.
