Everyone’s sense of taste are different from one another. The differences, not only, lie in preferences but also age and weight. Ever wonder why our tastes for food and scents change as we get older? Children are born with more taste buds than adults. As we grow older, our taste buds decrease.

Within the past few years scientists have been studying the effects of obesity and taste buds. Their findings indicate that taste buds are negatively linked with weight. Your taste buds become less sensitive as you gain more unnecessary weight.

A study on obese children noted that children who weighed more had a significantly harder time distinguishing between different tastes. Every person has five different types of taste buds: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory. Imagine not being able to distinguish whether or not a piece of food was sweet or bitter.

If you’ve noticed a significant change in your taste buds, it may be pertinent to talk to a doctor. Our sense of taste and smell play an important part in keeping us safe. Normally, things that put off an unpleasant odor or taste aren’t good for you. If you can no longer distinguish these differences, you may be facing more dangers than you know.

Image by: Scott Bauer