}

Sixth taste

2005/11/27 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

Taste is a limited sense. Although we eat with the five senses, the most important thing is smell and taste. Anyone who has had a cold knows that without smell the food seems tasteless. However, the receptors we have in the language are essential to take basic flavors. Thanks to them we can know if the food is sweet, salty, bitter or bitter. It is said that we also taste the mood, and scientists have discovered that we also taste the fat.
Some like fatty or fatty foods more than others.

Until a few years ago, scientists believed that our taste cells only distinguished four flavors: salty, bitter, sweet and acidic. The receptors of these four flavors are found on the different sides of the tongue: those that perceive the sweet on the tip of the canvas; the sides and the lower, those of the acid; the ends, those of the salt; and on the back of the tongue, near the throat, those of the bitter. Therefore, to know if the coffee is sweetened with sugar just touch it with the tip of the tongue, but we will not know until the liquid is almost in the throat.

Later, the scientists discovered that in the language there were also receptors of another flavor: that of humor. Protein and fermented foods taste like humor and, above all, monosodium glutamate. Umami is typical of oriental cuisine, since soy sauce has a great taste of uterus. Glutamate, on the other hand, is widely used in dishes prepared as a flavor enhancer. Specifically, glutamates are those of E-621 to E-625 from the list of additives.

However, according to a recent French study, the list of taste receptors may be further extended. Researchers at the University of Burgundy have found that mice have a fat receptor.

Fat Receiver

Taste receptors are found in different parts of the tongue.

According to the widely held belief, the feeling of fat was mostly taken through touch. However, French researchers consider that we have a specific receptor for fat. At least, mice have this receptor and it is very likely that men and women are, as the rest of the taste receptors are equal in both species.

In addition, researchers believe that the recipient may be key to understanding why some have a passion for fatty foods or why some tend to get fat.

Researchers have investigated with mice and observed a receptor in adipose tissue. Researchers have shown that the receptor is not only present in adipose tissue but also in other tissues such as the tongue.

It was also intended to show that the receptor was used to taste fat, for which mice without receptor were grown. Then they were offered the traditional menu and fat food. And, apparently, they were not able to differentiate the difference between the two, as they ate equally from one to the other. The common mice, on the other hand, consumed triple the fat that the traditional menu.

Passion for fat

Blocked the fat receptor, a researcher hopes to eliminate the passion for fat food.

Researchers have analyzed the function of the receiver and found that it emits a signal when detecting fat. As a result, a fat digestion mechanism is launched. The next step is to analyze all this in humans. Thanks to this, researchers hope to clarify why some like fatty or fatty foods more than others.

If this were not enough, another researcher proposes to invent a compound that blocks the receptor. He hopes to eliminate the desire to eat junk food. Yes, to the detriment of taste. Then you also have to choose between health or pleasure.

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