Do you find yourself daydreaming about French fries, a juicy fat steak, or a chunk of cheesecake? I know I do! So many of us feel helplessly drawn to the fat-laden foods that are contributing to near epidemic proportions of obesity in North American society — but we might not be so helpless in the near future.
A recent study out of France has pinpointed a potential culprit for fatty food cravings: CD36, which is a taste receptor found on the tongue.
Like us, rats and mice seem to be drawn toward fattier foods. Intrigued, the French researchers took two groups of rodents — one normal group, and one with the gene for CD36 turned off — and looked at whether the presence of the receptor affected their preference for fatty foods.
According to the study, the “normal” rodents did prefer fattier foods when offered, while the rodents without the CD36 receptor didn’t. Moreover, when a fatty liquid was put onto the tongues of the normal rodents, they had a physiological reaction — their digestive organs released fat- processing substances. This response wasn’t present in the rodents lacking CD36.
These interesting results could mean the discovery of a new type of taste bud cell! Currently, there are five known taste sensations: salty; sour; sweet; bitter; and “umami.” You probably haven’t heard of that last one. Umami, also known as “savory,” includes such taste sensations as fermented or aged foods, any food containing MSG, and some others, such as tomatoes and broccoli.
The taste buds, mostly on the surface of the tongue, each contain between 50 and 100 taste cells. This means that each taste bud can detect any one of the five taste sensations, which is contrary to popular belief.
Soon — thanks to the new research — we might be adding fat to the list of taste sensations. What does this mean for you? While our bodies require that about 30% of our daily caloric intake come from fat, most of us actually get at least 40%. This has led to the prevalence of obesity and the frightening diseases that tend to come with it, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke — the list can go on and on.
It’s conceivable, with more studies, that researchers could find a way to turn off the gene behind CD36 in humans, possibly eliminating the craving for fat. It’s also been suggested that food manufacturers could use the discovery of this alleged fat taste receptor to tailor their foods to those that crave fat; i.e. create a substance that tricks CD36 into thinking it’s getting fat, without creating the same havoc that excessive fat does in your body!
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Tags: heart disease, obesity
