Our combined senses of smell & taste are called the chemical senses because they sense and interpret the biochemistry of life. These senses direct us away from danger, help us identify the world around us, and attract us toward what is pleasant. Smell smoke and instinctively you run away. Catch a whiff in your garden and you immediately know a rose from a pine tree. A whiff of perfume or cologne may attract you to your future mate.
These senses are tied to a complex messenger system connecting your brain, nervous system and digestive processes. This natural bio-sensory process stimulates emotional responses that direct our actions, evokes memories and can calm or excite us. We feel these emotions in our head, our heart, and ‘gut.’
In the search for nutrients and foods our highly evolved senses of smell & taste have two big tasks – keep us safe from ingesting dangerous or inappropriate foods or substances and direct us to the foods and nutrients our bodies need for nourishment.
The Science | Glossary | Smell & Taste Testing | Nutrient Report Card