The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. General Science
  3. General Science
  4. Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?

  • 7 Replies
  • 2714 Views
  • 3 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline SayWhatYouThink (OP)

  • First timers
  • *
  • 2
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« on: 18/01/2019 21:13:11 »
Hi all

So Im currently trying to lose weight.  My problem is i love food and chocolate is my weakness.  But what occurred to me is if our taste buds are on our tongue which give us the pleasure of eating chocolate then why do we only feel satisfied if we swallow it?
« Last Edit: 19/01/2019 09:48:48 by chris »
Logged
 



Offline alancalverd

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • ********
  • 10901
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 632 times
  • life is too short to drink instant coffee
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #1 on: 18/01/2019 23:09:54 »
The feeling of hunger is prompted among other things by insufficient blood sugar- you need to actually digest your food in order to lose your appetite. There was even a brief fad in the 1950s for a sugar-assisted diet, claiming that a spoonful of sugar switches off your "appestat". This has some credibility in the habit of finishing a meal with a sweet or a sweet dessert wine - the French distinguish between "opening" and "closing" foods (soft cheese is also a closer, particularly if taken with grapes or sweet wine) and some traditions "open" a meal with sharp pickles.

I have heard it asserted that a proper Yorkshire dinner begins with the eponymous pudding served with gravy, and ends with a repeat, covered with strawberry jam.

Aside from the feeling of satiety, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, psychoactive "pleasure" compounds that are absorbed through the digestive system, not the tongue.

But this is a long way from weight loss diets. My advice is to eat heartily, enjoy it, and switch off the central heating. This time of year you can lose 1000 calories a day by just being cold, and save a fortune on your gas bill.
« Last Edit: 18/01/2019 23:18:23 by alancalverd »
Logged
helping to stem the tide of ignorance
 

Offline evan_au

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 8978
  • Activity:
    76%
  • Thanked: 882 times
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #2 on: 19/01/2019 19:09:34 »
Your brain (and the significant nervous system in your gut) adapt to new food types and behaviors.

The conscious sensation of enjoying food is reinforced (or weakened) based on the result on your body (including blood sugar levels).
- Getting sick soon after eating a food can result in an aversion to that food
- There are indications that the amount we eat is determined by our expectation of how many calories are in the food
- I have seen suggestions that "diet" foods may actually increase the amount of calories consumed, because your body now interprets sweet foods/drinks as having a lower calorific content, so you drink/eat more of them (much to the delight of the vendor, who sometimes charges a premium for "diet" food).

Sometimes our unconscious brain outsmarts our conscious brain....
Logged
 

Offline davidk

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 13
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 1 times
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #3 on: 20/01/2019 12:05:17 »
Hi,
The subject asks if taste is better on swallowing vs spitting.  I thought if this is true then why do wine tasters not swallow?  Is it only because of the alcohol?  Besides, I'd think they can't help swallowing a small amount.
However, the question asked is regarding satisfaction rather than the quality of taste.  Also, is the question about the pleasure of swallowing or is it the satisfaction wrt satiation? 
Logged
 

Offline Petrochemicals

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1461
  • Activity:
    52%
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • forum overlord
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #4 on: 21/01/2019 18:10:59 »
Most likely because the aroma doesnt reach your nose sense of smell, which is where most of the taste comes from. Try eating cheese with your nose clamped  !
Logged
For reasons of repetitive antagonism, this user is currently not responding to messages from;
BoredChemist
To ignore someone too, go to your profile settings>modifyprofie>ignore!
 



Offline yor_on

  • Naked Science Forum GOD!
  • *******
  • 27121
  • Activity:
    100%
  • Thanked: 64 times
  • (Ah, yes:) *a table is always good to hide under*
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #5 on: 22/01/2019 16:57:54 »
Think you're right Alan. Tried to look for fat Eskimos but couldn't find one. I'll inform the government, we're of to a greener world.
Logged
"BOMB DISPOSAL EXPERT. If you see me running, try to keep up."
 

Offline Petrochemicals

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1461
  • Activity:
    52%
  • Thanked: 28 times
  • forum overlord
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #6 on: 24/01/2019 18:29:31 »
Forgive  the impertinence , but your dont have an eating disorder do you, just the way you wrote it.
Quote from: SayWhatYouThink on 18/01/2019 21:13:11
Hi all

So Im currently trying to lose weight.  My problem is i love food and chocolate is my weakness.  But what occurred to me is if our taste buds are on our tongue which give us the pleasure of eating chocolate then why do we only feel satisfied if we swallow it?


If you try drinking bad milk your gag reflex will be activated by your body as this is an unwelcome thing. If you eat something that your body desires  the body will welcome it and request more, with the opposite of the gag reflex.  Your tastes can change rapidly depending on what your body needs, ie that food is very moreish.

Logged
For reasons of repetitive antagonism, this user is currently not responding to messages from;
BoredChemist
To ignore someone too, go to your profile settings>modifyprofie>ignore!
 

Offline David Cooper

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 2822
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 37 times
    • View Profile
Re: Spit vs swallow: why do foods taste nicest only if we swallow them?
« Reply #7 on: 27/01/2019 20:23:14 »
The best taste is when you swallow, and that's a reward mechanism to make sure you actually take the energy in rather than losing it. It is not designed for situations with continual oversupply, but perhaps an operation could be designed to put a tube in to allow you to eat constantly without everything you've swallowed going down into the stomach. This would be infinitely preferable to the current approach with politicians trying to take calories out of food in order to force us all to stuff ourselves with more and more of it just to get the energy we need.
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags: swallowing  / taste  / food 
 

Similar topics (5)

If cows ate strawberries, would their milk taste of strawberries?

Started by neilepBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 5
Views: 4285
Last post 26/08/2017 13:44:35
by Bored chemist
why the difference in strength of taste between frozen and non-frozen drinks?

Started by paul.frBoard General Science

Replies: 2
Views: 4342
Last post 23/08/2008 11:54:10
by daveshorts
Why Does Wild Salmon Taste Nicer Than Farmed Salmon ?

Started by neilepBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 3
Views: 11701
Last post 01/07/2008 22:29:11
by neilep
How do you make cold potato chips (French Fries) taste nice again?

Started by latebindBoard General Science

Replies: 15
Views: 17742
Last post 21/04/2009 02:03:07
by Chemistry4me
Is it true that stainless steel cooking utensils can alter taste?

Started by Madidus_ScientiaBoard Chemistry

Replies: 4
Views: 15631
Last post 19/01/2010 13:02:30
by geo driver
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.14 seconds with 54 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.