So far, it is known that the human tongue has the ability to taste five different tastes; bitter, sweet, salty, sour, and rich in protein (savory). Now scientists enters the sixth which is the taste of fat.
Researchers at Deakin University, working with colleagues from the University of Adelaide, discovered that the human tongue can detect the taste of fat. The people who are sensitive to the taste of fat tend to eat less, so they are not overweight.
Savory taste like ingredients for flavoring and high protein foods was found in August 2006 and was published in the Nature journal.
Meanwhile, in August 2008, genetic scientists Michael Tordoff also have discovered a sense of calcium that can be detected by tongue. This calcium taste like the taste of fresh water. But the taste of calcium is still a debate because people regard it is tasteless.
Deakin University researcher, Russell Keast, said that previous findings in the United States have used animal models to find the taste of fat.
“Interestingly, we also found that those with a high sensitivity to the taste of fat will be eating less so they have BMI (body-mass indices) lower than those who are less sensitive,” Keast said to Reuters, Thursday (11/3/2010).
The research team developed a screening procedure to test the ability of people to taste a variety of common fatty acids found in foods.
Researchers found that people who have a taste for fat varies. There are people with high sensitivity while others do not have at all.
According to Keast, fat which is easily obtained and commonly consumed for daily foods shows that the human taste system may be more sensitive from time to time.
Keast is interested in understanding why some people are more sensitive and others are not. He believes this will lead to ways that can help people reduce fat consumption and development on low-fat foods and diets.
Researchers say the discovery of fat taste could be the key to reducing obesity. The results of this study have been published in the last edition of the British Journal of Nutrition.





































