Sense of Taste: How Does It Work?

Ever wondered how our sense of taste works? The question may appear inconsequential for a layperson. The taste buds on tongue send signals to the brain, which helps us differentiate between types of taste. Armed with this information on the sense of taste, we can determine the type of foods we eat, foods that satiate the taste buds and are good for health too. Read through to learn more about the types of taste buds on tongue and how they work.

Understanding Taste Buds

Taste buds are susceptible and microscopic hairs like protrusions (known as microvilli) present on the surface of the tongue. These tiny bumps, called taste papillae, are packed with receptor cells. The taste receptor cells are also present along the roof of the mouth, cheek, and in the lining of the throat. 

The role of these receptor cells is to analyse the chemical compounds present in the food and carry the nerve signals to the brain. The brain then creates the perception of taste and helps differentiate between types of taste.

The average age of each receptor cell is about 10 days. Thus, they regenerate and replenish quickly. But there is a yawning gap between the number of receptor cells present in a child’s mouth vis-a-vis that of an adult. While a child has about 30,000 taste receptor cells, the number is around 15,000 for an average adult and further reduces to only 5,000 in elderly people.

Types of Taste Buds on Tongue

The human brain can differentiate between five basic tastes:

• Bitter – The bitter taste is because of the polyphenols and alkaloids present in plants. 
• Sweet – The sweet taste is conferred by a form of sugar, alcohol, or amino acids. The brain recognises them as energy-dense foods.
• Salty – The sodium chloride present in some foods confers a salty taste.
• Sour – The sourness is because of the acids (hydrogen ions) present in the food. 
• Savoury – The savoury taste is bestowed by the amino acids present in the foods. 

Taste Buds on Tongue and Degree of Sensitivity

It is a known fact that each human being is distinct; has different likes and dislikes. This argument holds water for our tastes as well. 

This difference is attributable to the varying degree of sensitivity of taste receptor cells. So, a person with hypersensitive receptor cells will be extremely choosy and most likely to be a finicky eater. With too many ifs and buts, such people are not the best social eaters and are often skinny and underweight.

On the other end of the continuum, a person with low sensitivity to receptor cells will not create any fuss while eating. The flip side to this is that they tend to overeat and are thus at a heightened risk of obesity and related ailments.

Ways to Tame Taste Buds for Healthy Eating

Our taste and smell preferences are innate. The composition of our taste buds is beyond our control. But thankfully, experimenting and finding ways to prepare foods differently can help us tame our taste buds to eat and relish healthier food options. 

Remember, the taste buds on tongue regenerate, on average, every 10 days. The old cells die out, paving the way for the new ones. And interestingly, the traits of the new ones can be different from the old ones — no wonder the food choices vary among age groups. Thus you can train your tongue to enjoy different flavours and tastes. Listed below are ways in which you can groom your sense of taste for healthier living:

1. Keep introducing different flavours and foods into your diet. Practice this for at least 10 days in a row. Just a bite of other foods can also help you develop a liking for the food you disapproved of earlier. 
2. In addition to our sense of taste, our sense of smell is also responsible for our preferences in foods. Foods with a strong, pungent smell often irritate our olfactory sensation, making us develop a dislike for the particular food. Try eating such foods in the evening as the sense of smell tends to get weak towards the evening. Also, try to mask the smell of such food items by mixing them with other favourite foods.
3. Avoid packed and processed foods altogether. Introduce healthy food options for each type of taste. For example, opt for fresh fruits instead of sugary delights. Avoid the high sodium intake in the form of chips and added salt to your daily diet. Instead, use other spices and herbs to add flavour while keeping the salt intake low.
4. Keep your oil intake low. Using too much oil while cooking prevents the taste buds from deciphering the actual taste of the food. Also, too much fat is bad for weight and heart health. Avoid trans-fat altogether. They increase the inflammation in the body and also manipulate the taste buds to increase the craving for fried foods.
5. To settle your sugar craving, try eating frozen fruits, yoghurt mousse, or homemade frozen yoghurt instead of sweets and chocolates.
6. Listening to music while eating enhances the flavours of the food. It also masks up certain tastes that one generally tends to avoid otherwise. So, use music to your advantage and go in for healthier food options.
7. The flavour of mayonnaise is liked by many. But the food is excessively high in oil and calories. Go in for healthier alternatives to mayonnaise, like low-fat Greek yoghurt, hummus, mashed avocado, almond butter, or tahini.
8. While cooking, let your most preferred flavour be the most dominant one. When we tend to eat too much of one flavour, we feel full quickly. This will help you control your appetite, which is important for healthy living.
9. Be present while eating. Let all your senses work in tandem when you begin to eat your meal. When we see, smell, touch, and taste food, the entire body is involved in eating. This helps us to take pleasure in our food and signals the brain when to stop. 

Conclusion 

Humans have been bestowed with numerous gifts. The sense of taste is indeed blissful. However, the taste buds on tongue guide our taste references and thwart us from ingesting healthier foods, increasing the risk of diseases and ailments. We need to understand that taste buds regenerate periodically and thus, the food preferences keep changing and evolving. 

Going to research, one should eat a balanced diet even if it leaves a bitter taste on tongue. At the same time, one can choose the right type of food and alter the cooking methods appropriately to get the best of both worlds; sumptuous taste and a healthy diet. Remember, a truly healthy diet would include foods that cater to all five types of taste.