Taste
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Taste Centers
This clip goes into detail about some of the overlooked characteristics of the tongue, such as the different types of papillae, how salivary glands are connected to taste buds, and the base of the tongue. What are tastebuds and where are they located? What are the four types of papillae? Where are they located? When are the salivary glands stimulated?
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The Sense of Taste
A short animated diagram introduces the perception of taste starting with the detection of food molecules all the way to the brain. How does our gustatory system operate?
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Supertaster’s Taste Buds
The documentary profiles a supertaster and discusses how our taste buds process different flavors. Computer generated footage is coupled with that from a dental camera, showing a person chewing food. How does the tongue of a so-called supertaster differ from the average persons? How prevalent are supertasters in the population? Why do children typically dislike bitter-tasting vegetables such as Brussels sprouts?
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Umami
We’re all familiar with sweet, salty, bitter and sour tastes. But how many of us have heard of Umami? What kinds of foods can you find this taste in?
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Mushrooms that Taste Like Bacon
Chef Elliot Prag of the Natural Gourmet Institute shows Sunita Reed how to make shiitake mushrooms taste like bacon and bring out their Umami flavor. Why do you think this recipe works this way? What is happening with your taste buds?
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Sweet Tooth Gene
Researchers have linked a specific gene difference to consuming more sugary foods. And as this ScienCentral News video explains, they even uncovered how the sweet tooth gene likely affects sugar intake. Do you think that this is really a genetic defect, or could there be a reason certain people feel the need for more sugar?
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