The Chemo Sensing combo of smell & taste are the gatekeepers of nutritional wisdom in both humans and animals. Think about it – in animals, and humans, the nose is located above the mouth. The design is to smell first, open mouth second. Animals instinctively sniff before eating (except certain lazy dogs we know). Chefs, wine stewards and coffee baristas have trained their senses of smell and taste to make food selection both pleasurable and nutritious.
By the way…what we call taste is actually flavor-and nearly 80% of what we call flavor comes from smells. So when we talk about how smells are interpreted, just remember taste interpretation works the same way. However, something that passes our sniff test can fail the taste test – our second line of defense before we ingest anything.
While we all recognize that smell and taste can protect us from harm, you may wonder if these senses can really guide us to the nutrients and foods we need for nourishment. Read on…
The Science | Glossary | Smell & Taste Testing | Nutrient Report Card