Lost Your Sense of Taste or Smell? 7 Tips for Eating Well Some loss of taste and smell is natural with aging, especially after age 60. However, other factors can contribute to loss of taste and smell including allergies, certain medications, some cancer treatments, and a Covid-19 infection. Our senses of taste and smell are so intricately linked that when you lose your sense of smell, it can often feel like you’ve also lost your ability to taste. So, what can you do to make eating more enjoyable? Here’s some advice from clinical dieticians at The University of Texas’ MD Anderson Cancer Center.
try foods that are different from what you would normally eat. Try ones with ingredients that pack a real flavor punch such as ginger, mint, vinegar, onion, garlic, or chili powder.
1. Get moving - Rev up your body’s natural craving for calories through exercise. Set aside at least 30 minutes a day to get moving – even if it’s only a brisk walk around the neighborhood.
6. Tinker with temperatures - Chilled or frozen foods can have a more pleasing taste than warm or hot foods. Try yogurts, smoothies, shakes, egg salad or frozen fruit.
2. Make it a production - Set the stage for culinary satisfaction by dusting off your fanciest place settings, and make every meal an event. Get creative with herbal garnishes, so the end result is as visually appealing as it is tasty. Presentation matters, especially when you’re not that interested in eating.
7. Stay flexible – and give yourself time Foods can taste different from one day to the next, so it’s important to persist – and adapt as your palate changes. If you notice foods tasting salty or bitter; use honey, jam, or agave nectar to add sweetness. If, on the other hand, foods are too sweet, add something sour or slightly bitter, like vinegar or tart citrus fruit. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t underestimate chocolate, many people can taste chocolate when they can’t taste anything else.
3. Don’t underestimate the power of sour - Lemon juice or anything tart can stimulate saliva production, which is essential for taste. Try starting a meal with some lemon sorbet or add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to wake up your taste buds. 4. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone - If old favorites aren’t cutting it anymore, Click the links for more content!
5. Try different food textures - When your ability to perceive flavor is limited, the way foods feel can have greater significance. Try different combinations of textures in your meals, such as crunchy apples with sticky peanut butter. Don’t forget about liquids like smoothies or fortified beverages.
Finding things that will work for you takes trial and error, and it’s an ongoing process. It takes people different amounts of time to recover those senses, so keep trying.
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