An ancient 'superfood' sent from heaven
We all know someone with unusual or extreme food preferences. Maybe they put hot sauce on everything, or perhaps they eat cake for breakfast. Well, research has shown that these aren't only simple preferences. In fact, there's even a link between personality and taste/flavor preferences. In the end, it has more to do with taste buds and the mouth-feel aspects of tasting food than with the olfactory contributions to flavor or genetics.
Intrigued? Click on to discover what our tastes may reveal about our personality.
Before we dive into what your food preferences actually might say about your personality, it's important to look at how flavor is linked to our taste buds. Our flavor preferences, and the ability to sense each one, are connected to taste buds on the tongue and influenced by something known as "taster-status."
Super-tasters have the most taste buds and tend to have very strong likes and dislikes for different foods. Foods like broccoli, cabbage, spinach, and coffee are often reported as too bitter for them.
The opposite of super-tasters, non-tasters have the least number of taste buds. They prefer spicy and salty foods since, to their tongues, most food is bland.
In the middle are medium-tasters, who are likely to try new foods and often get the benefits of a widely varied diet.
If you like it burning, then chances are you enjoy living on the edge. Spicy foods set off pain receptors, which you'd think would prevent people from continue to eat, but for them it's part of the allure.
Also, one study of 114 men found that those with greater salivary testosterone used more Tabasco sauce on their mashed potatoes. There you go!
Sweets are often used as comfort foods, while people seek out sour foods when they're restless or anxious. If you constantly crave the two flavors together, it may mean that you get easily overwhelmed and are looking for balance in your life.
If you're the one who likes to try that new fusion restaurant or food truck, then you're likely a risk-taker. A new food is a new adventure waiting to happen, and you're not missing out on that!
One reason you can't resist a slice is because pizza is the most addictive food, hence why so many love it. But loving pizza also shows that you may be an extrovert. After all, it's the ultimate party food, as it's convenient, cheap, and feeds a crowd.
A study, which surveyed 953 Americans, found that after controlling for preferences for sweet, sour, and salty tastes, preferences for bitter food predicted antisocial traits. They also found greater levels of psychopathic and sadistic traits.
Traditions are the ways we keep in touch with where we came from, and this is true for food, too. Being a traditionalist with food means you put a lot of importance on family and traditions.
Seeking out and trying exotic or rare foods means that you're someone curious who loves a challenge. This is true regardless of whether you actually enjoyed eating it!
Having a sweet tooth may mean you have a sweet personality to match! Researchers found that people who crave sweet foods are more likely to be agreeable, friendly, pleasant, and outgoing.
There's just something so primal about grilling outdoors. Reminiscent of when mankind were hunters, in today's modern world it may translate to being an active go-getter.
People who love ice cream often have a child-like innocence to them. And because there are so many options for toppings, cones, and flavors, it gives you a feeling that anything can happen!
If you're the type who loves all kinds of produce, it shows that you value learning about your food. It also shows that living a healthy lifestyle is important to you.
Shakes and smoothies are super convenient for those who loves to multitask. Just be sure to use healthy, high-quality ingredients for a meal on the go that will keep you fueled all day.
If sushi is your favorite food-on-the-go, it shows that you're sophisticated and open to a wide variety of experiences.
Be it a mac and cheese or chicken nuggets, loving these foods means that you romanticize your childhood. It also shows that you love remembering the past.
If you can't survive without your daily coffee infusion, it may signal that you're a sensation-seeker!
A study of 20 adults found that preferences for caffeine predicted greater sensation-seeking, perhaps due to the stimulating effects of caffeine.
People who love healthy eating may be more open, extroverted, conscientious, or happier.
A study of over 1,000 young adults found that eating fruits and vegetables was related to greater openness and extraversion. In addition, a separate study found that people who were in a more positive mood preferred healthier foods.
The cookie's sweet flavor triggers a release of oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. In addition, the chocolate contains theobromine, a compound with a calming effect. So if these are your go-to comfort food, chances are you're stressed.
A study of 303 participants found that people who prefer potentially dangerous foods or beverages (meaning food that could make us ill) were higher in sensation-seeking.
Matcha is a powder made from green tea leaves and is said to have particular health properties. If you already knew this and drink it every day, then you might pride yourself on being unique.
Preferring bland food, or food less likely to make you sick, means you may be lower in sensation-seeking. You prefer to keep things on the safe side.
Picky eating reflects anxious personalities. A study of 318 college students found that more anxious individuals had a greater number of food aversions.
Picky eaters may also be super-tasters, or people who have more taste buds and therefore experience flavors at a greater intensity.
Sources: (Reader's Digest) (Psychology Today)
What the foods you love reveal about your personality
Evidence points to a link between personality traits and food choices
FOOD Curiosities
We all know someone with unusual or extreme food preferences. Maybe they put hot sauce on everything, or perhaps they eat cake for breakfast. Well, research has shown that these aren't only simple preferences. In fact, there's even a link between personality and taste/flavor preferences. In the end, it has more to do with taste buds and the mouth-feel aspects of tasting food than with the olfactory contributions to flavor or genetics.
Intrigued? Click on to discover what our tastes may reveal about our personality.