New research suggests the tongue may have taste sensors dedicated to detecting fat, just as it does for salty, sour, bitter and sweet foods.
The theory hasn't yet been confirmed in humans — only mice have been tested — and it's not clear what could be done with this new information.
But French researchers say the existence of a built-in 'fat sensor' might prove a boon for dieters if researchers then figure out a way of turning it off to make fatty foods less tempting.
"If we manage to taste less, maybe we'd eat and crave less," said Nada A. Abumrad, a professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis and the author of a commentary on the findings.
| • | Fondness for Fatty Foods May Be Built In
Could tongues be equipped with a 'fat sensor'? ABC News, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005 Byline: Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter |
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