Any super or non-tasters here?

[mysngoeshere56]

So, with all of the recent topics about food, I thought I'd start up one of these...

Basically, foods don't taste the same to everybody. This isn't just part of personal preference, but also because of the structure of a person's taste buds. Supertasters have an exceptionally high number of taste buds, and count for about 25% of America's population. They're extremely sensitive to taste, and typically avoid foods that are excessively bitter or sweet. Under or non-tasters have very few taste buds, and as such don't taste very much at all. They typically only eat for the sake of sustenance, and account for another 25% of America's population. The other 50% of Americans fall somewhere in between and are viewed as "the norm".

Anyway, I haven't taken any tests to find out, but I've looked up pictures of the different sorts of taste buds to compare them to mine. I also did research on supertasting behaviors, and a lot of these behaviors apply to me. I'm very picky when it comes to how my food is prepared, and the bitter substances are extremely bitter for me. I can't drink coffee or eat dark chocolate because both of them taste very bitter to my taste buds.

I can only consume sweet foods and beverages in limited amounts, too. I can't drink too much Coke or the overall sweetness (and especially the carbonation) would overpower me. Most of my caffeine comes from Coke Slurpees (and they also have to be perfectly prepared.... flat Slurpees make me sick).

So, just out of curiosity... Does anybody here know what kind of taster they are?

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Strange topic. I believe this might be a first for CAA (congratulations).
I'm not sure where I lie, somewhere between the 'super-tasters' and the 'norm' I would think. There are foods I don't appreciate but I'm not overly fussy with my eating habits. I don't appreciate excessively bitter or sweet foods but if it's offered to me, I'll eat it. I'll eat dark chocolate sometimes but again, I don't like it. I'm a sweet tooth but there are some deserts that are much too sweet for my liking. I think I just complicated things for you.

[ADXC]

Well for me, I probably lie between super-taster and norm. Because recently, we ate some pizza with a different sauce that my mom made. Of course to me the combination sounded great(Which was cream cheese, ranch, and miracle whip.); however, I could only eat two slices(And they were SMALL, I always like to eat large amounts, but never am I content with just 2. That is except for this time.) and I just could not eat anymore because of the super-richness of the sauce. Then I ate a lemon square(Which I love to death.) and it was amazingly sweet. I felt a rush from that. But also, the cheesecake that I may get to eat 3 times a year(I mean I'm not from the wealthy side so that's about as much as we can afford.) and I just love the richness, but I can never eat alot.

So yeah, I would say that I'm between super and norm. I'm supernorm! XD

[Makachop^^128]

I would deffinatly say I'm a non-taster pretty much have to make my self eat, don't enjoy eating much other then fruit but even that its not like how most people like food.

[ADXC]

Ah, man, if I really was a non-taster I'd be much thinner. So being a non-taster is probably healthier. I kind of wonder why God made us different like that.

[Makachop^^128]

Originally posted by ADXC (post: 1413286): Ah, man, if I really was a non-taster I'd be much thinner. So being a non-taster is probably healthier. I kind of wonder why God made us different like that.

I don't know that it is healthier, I mean when I was little I had to watch my weight because I lose it so easily. Still kinda have that problem but its not too bad now. It is weird how different people are lol.

[Cognitive Gear]

I honestly don't know which one of these I am. I'm going to have to try to self test, since this is a pretty interesting idea.

[mysngoeshere56]

Originally posted by Warrior 4 Jesus (post: 1413278): Strange topic. I believe this might be a first for CAA (congratulations). I'm not sure where I lie, somewhere between the 'super-tasters' and the 'norm' I would think. There are foods I don't appreciate but I'm not overly fussy with my eating habits. I don't appreciate excessively bitter or sweet foods but if it's offered to me, I'll eat it. I'll eat dark chocolate sometimes but again, I don't like it. I'm a sweet tooth but there are some deserts that are much too sweet for my liking. I think I just complicated things for you.

No worries, it doesn't complicate things. I've heard is perfectly possible to be in between one of the three groups, and it does sound like you're just a bit less picky than me so you could be right in between. And, thanks for the congrats.

Oh, and I heard that it's actually supertasters who tend to be thinner. We typically don't need to eat as many sweets to get the same kind of satisfaction that others get by eating more, so (as a whole) we tend to consume less food in general. We also tend to be able to detect when something's wrong with food much easier than most. I generally avoid microwaving easy mac in plastic containers, because it tastes different to me. I'm guessing that the difference is from melted plastic from the bowl... I imagine that probably isn't good for consumption.

But, non-tasting does have certain health benefits. Non-tasters can eat a lot more bitter compounds that are healthier, like various kinds of vegetables that most others don't tend to care for. Supertasters tend to dislike them, and therefore not eat them. So it's kind of like a "you win some, you lose some" situation.

[Makachop^^128]

Originally posted by mysngoeshere56 (post: 1413293): No worries, it doesn't complicate things. I've heard is perfectly possible to be in between one of the three groups, and it does sound like you're just a bit less picky than me so you could be right in between. And, thanks for the congrats. Oh, and I heard that it's actually supertasters who tend to be thinner. We typically don't need to eat as many sweets to get the same kind of satisfaction that others get by eating more, so (as a whole) we tend to consume less food in general. We also tend to be able to detect when something's wrong with food much easier than most. I generally avoid microwaving easy mac in plastic containers, because it tastes different to me. I'm guessing that the difference is from melted plastic from the bowl... I imagine that probably isn't good for consumption. But, non-tasting does have certain health benefits. Non-tasters can eat a lot more bitter compounds that are healthier, like various kinds of vegetables that most others don't tend to care for. Supertasters tend to dislike them, and therefore not eat them. So it's kind of like a "you win some, you lose some" situation.

Thats funny I tend to be thinner but I'm a non taster. but I also pretty much only eat veggies and fruit and some protein (I'm a vegetarian) not much carbs, but I can see how supertasters tend to be thinner actually.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Makachop, I feel sorry for you. It must be a real bummer to not be able to enjoy food.

MsynGoesHere, I'm thin and eat a lot of food and (probably) somewhere between 'super-taster' and 'norm'. What does that make me? lol

[mysngoeshere56]

Lol, well, there are exceptions to every majority. I would imagine that some supertasters eat more because... well, they enjoy food!

Oh, and I'm vegetarian too, Makachop! But between that and my sensitivity to taste, it's hard for me to find some good food at certain restaurants. A lot of times I just order a bunch of side dishes because I can't eat very many vegetables like the stereotypical vegetarian. My diet mostly consists of pasta (and other carbs), fruit, certain vegetables, and dairy (I'm not vegan). I can eat certain sorts of vegetables more than others, like potatoes, corn, peas, carrots... vegetables that don't taste as bitter (though I can't stomach sweet potatoes - WAY too sweet for me). Most of my vegetable intake has to come from soup... I actually like vegetable soup.

I tried eating more plain/raw vegetables, but most of them are too strong for me. And if it's not the taste, it's the texture or the aftertaste. Salad is good, but I can only eat certain parts of it... I prefer it with spinach instead of lettuce, too. I tried artichoke once. I liked the taste and texture, but then the aftertaste came along and made my mouth feel horrid! >_< But, I was in Europe when I tried artichoke, so maybe it was just how it was prepared there.

Hm, so I guess I just have to make sure I prepare my vegetables right in order to make sure I can stomach them. I adore tomato sauce, but I can only eat a certain amount of raw tomatoes before I start feeling sick... Guess now that I'm thinking of it, I should look up some ways to prepare my veggies so I can find them more edible! I have found them more enjoyable while eating them in the form of vegetarian/vegan meat, though... Like veggie burgers and things like that.

[Cheezie_Neko]

Hmm i'm not quite sure where i'd fit since i can't stand sweets but love
sour bitter stuff.

I'm more of a texture eater myself I sometimes enjoy the chewing more then
the taste.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Now that this has been brought up, I'll have to go test myself. I don't have any idea where I'd fall on this.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

MysnGoesHere, this is a really interesting thread. There are foods I don't like - sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, pumpkin, squash, zucchini, but in general I eat most foods. Thanks for making us aware of the intricacies of taste-buds. It sounds like what many people would label as fussy is really just that some people are super-tasters (the others are probably just really fussy). Fascinating!

[mysngoeshere56]

Thanks, Warrior 4 Jesus! I actually heard the term "supertaster" for the first time a few years ago, and several weeks back, looked back on both the word's meaning and my past to reveal something about myself I probably never realized.

When I was a kid, I was ALWAYS known as a picky eater. I didn't care for the fishsticks that my preschool would give for lunch every now and then, and couldn't handle a great deal of food that fast food restaurants gave out in kid's meals. I wasn't vegetarian when I was a kid, and I would always have to have all vegetables removed from my cheeseburgers at McDonald's. I couldn't take any condiments either, so I was pretty much known as the kid who would eat fries without ketchup. I also liked removing the burger with melted cheese from the buns to eat it, because I liked the way the burger and the buns tasted on their own. In addition, I was one of the few kids in my elementary school classes who wouldn't touch the pepperoni pizzas at pizza parties, because the pepperoni was much too spicy for me.

So, as you could imagine, I was known for being the "picky eater" among the adults I was around... Then, after discovering the truth about supertasters, I realized that it was possible that being a picky eater wasn't entirely my fault. I haven't taken any of the self-tests, but nearly everything I've read about them applies to me, so I say it's mostly a safe assumption to assume I'm one of them.

Oh, and another fun fact about the taste buds: A person's taste bud count gradually decreases they get older, so they become less sensitive to taste as a whole. This is why kids usually find vegetables repulsive, but gradually find them more appealing as they grow up. I can still only handle certain vegetables, but when I was a little kid, eating them would make me feel exceptionally ill...

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I think it's partly the super-taster thing and partly to do with our psychological upbringings. I know my mum ate and drank very healthy foods and drinks while in labour with me and that extends to how I eat. I have friends who's mums didn't eat and drink so healthily in labour with them, and as a result they're very fussy eaters. So, I'm not saying this super-taster theory is false, there's probably a lot of truth to it, but also to do with a person's upbringing. It doesn't excuse all 'fussy' people though. God knows there are those who would just abuse the idea to get their own way.

[Angel37]

I lean toward the non-taster. I tend to enjoy foods that are really sweet or packed with flavor while other things such as tea or lemonade just taste like glorified water to me.

[ADXC]

My mom actually said that I'm probably a supertaster because I absolutely hated vegetables. Especially broccoli and green beans because they would make me throw up. Today I still don't like them a bit, but I think if I ate them I may not throw up.

Also, as far as burgers went, I hated pickles too. Even if there was a drop of pickle juice on the bun, I could still taste it and would not eat it. That's the same way it is with me peppers. If there's even one sliver of pepper on a cheesesteak, it becomes very hard for me to eat it.

So yeah, I guess I can taste stuff I hate more readily and I've always been a very picky eater. But I don't know if that makes me a supertaster.

[mysngoeshere56]

Wow! I never thought of the eating habits of our mothers affecting our own. My mom did eat pretty healthy while she was pregnant with me, but still, that's quite an interesting fact. Thanks for sharing, Warrior 4 Jesus!

And ADXC, I totally understand what you mean about the pickles. I hated them... could also taste if they were taken off (actually, I could taste if nearly any vegetables were taken off). I still avoid eating them, honestly. Peppers are even worse... One time after a long plane flight, the crew gave the passengers ONE breakfast option. It was basically an egg sandwich with peppers stuffed in the egg. I ONLY ate it because I knew I'd be hungry by the time lunch came around if I didn't... But still, it was one of the most unpleasant things I ever forced down my mouth.

[ADXC]

Well, at my college, the cafeteria doesn't have a lot of options for lunch sometimes. So occasionally they will serve meatloaf(Which I do like), but they will load them up with peppers. Sure I eat it because it's protein that I need to get to last through the classes of the day, but I still taste them.

But they also put peppers in just about everything, so if I'm forced to eat something with peppers I usually just swallow each bite hoping not to taste it. XD I know I'm weak.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Originally posted by mysngoeshere56 (post: 1413274): So, with all of the recent topics about food, I thought I'd start up one of these... Basically, foods don't taste the same to everybody. This isn't just part of personal preference, but also because of the structure of a person's taste buds. Supertasters have an exceptionally high number of taste buds, and count for about 25% of America's population. They're extremely sensitive to taste, and typically avoid foods that are excessively bitter or sweet. Under or non-tasters have very few taste buds, and as such don't taste very much at all. They typically only eat for the sake of sustenance, and account for another 25% of America's population. The other 50% of Americans fall somewhere in between and are viewed as "the norm". Anyway, I haven't taken any tests to find out, but I've looked up pictures of the different sorts of taste buds to compare them to mine. I also did research on supertasting behaviors, and a lot of these behaviors apply to me. I'm very picky when it comes to how my food is prepared, and the bitter substances are extremely bitter for me. I can't drink coffee or eat dark chocolate because both of them taste very bitter to my taste buds. I can only consume sweet foods and beverages in limited amounts, too. I can't drink too much Coke or the overall sweetness (and especially the carbonation) would overpower me. Most of my caffeine comes from Coke Slurpees (and they also have to be perfectly prepared.... flat Slurpees make me sick). So, just out of curiosity... Does anybody here know what kind of taster they are?

Interesting topic!

Supertaster here. I can spot an artificial flavor at twenty paces, can recreate a recipe from tasting it, et cetera.

Nothing I can take credit for. Just born that way.

[Furen]

I guess I would be at the top of the Norm, just under super