Coffee is one of those pleasures that few dislike. Its aroma and flavor make it one of the most consumed beverages in the world . Well, now a study developed by a team of researchers from the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (France) has determined that smokers are unable to taste something as simple as coffee because the toxic substances contained in cigarettes hinder the regeneration work of the taste buds.
The results, which have been published in the journal Chemosensory Perception , confirm not only that tobacco produces a loss of taste, but also a change in the structure of the fungiform papillae of the tongue, which is where the taste buds are found.
The taste buds are responsible for transmitting the sensation of sweet, bitter, salty and acid and we have an average of 10,000, which regenerate every two weeks , an action that decreases with age. But they not only help us to appreciate the types of flavors or tastes, but also help to activate the digestive system that changes saliva secretions, stomach acid and pancreatic juices; They also improve feelings of pleasure and satiety when eating and help us determine the quality of food and whether it is in good condition or not.
Due to the effects of the toxic substances in tobacco, this entire process is atrophied and confused, a conclusion reached after examining 451 volunteers (divided into three groups: smokers, non-smokers and ex-smokers) with whom they conducted an experiment to analyze its intensity rate in order to appreciate the four basic flavors (sweet, sour, bitter and salty), focusing mainly on the bitter taste of coffee. Almost 20% of smokers were unable to correctly identify the flavors, especially the bitter taste (coffee) . 26.5% of ex-smokers were not able to identify the taste of coffee; finally, only 13.4% of non-smokers did not identify this flavor.
These results show that the accumulation of some products contained in tobacco that are stored in the body can prevent the correct regeneration of the taste buds, which can not only affect the sense of taste of smokers, but also those who have already quit smoking .
