Do you love salty snacks? Do you instinctively reach for the
salt shaker during dinner? While you may think that you have dull or weak taste
buds, new research shows that that may not be the case. A new study suggests
that the reason you're reaching for salt is because you are a "supertaster," or
a person who experiences tastes more intensely than other people.
Supertaster versus
Non-taster
On one side of the taste spectrum are the supertasters,
those who are more sensitive to even the subtlest of tastes. On the other side
are non-tasters, who do not taste subtle flavors in food.
Previous research suggested that supertasters needed less
fat and sugar to satisfy their taste buds. John Hayes, a Ph.D. and assistant
professor of food science at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences,
and his colleagues theorized that supertasters would need less salt as well. To
test their hypothesis, they had people taste-test various foods. Approximately
a third of the people were supertasters. Samples of chicken broth with various
amount of added salt were used, along with pretzel sticks and soy sauce.
They discovered that supertasters liked more salt as opposed
to less. The researchers realized that salt plays a bigger role than making
foods salty; it also blocks the bitterness of some foods.
More Salt?
The negative effects of intaking large amounts of salt can
be devastating. Rather than grabbing the salt shaker at dinner every night,
Keri Gans, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, suggests that
supertasters use a variety of herbs and spices instead. Using pepper, fresh garlic, basil, dill,
oregano, or red pepper flakes to top your foods can reduce your salt intake and
satisfy the taste buds at the same time.
Resources:
CNN
Health – Love Salt? You Might be a "Supertaster"
Telegraph.co.uk
– "Supertasters" Find Lower Salt Levels Make Foods Too Bitter to Eat
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Re: Your Taste in Salt Might Indicate Whether You Are a “Supertaster”
