Word: loss
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...affliction that can lead to undereating, overeating, food or gas poisoning, depression, even death. More than three-quarters of us will suffer from it by the time we reach our 80s. But the good news is that in some cases this affliction--the loss of taste or smell, which together enable us to savor food--can be treated. And even when these senses can't be restored, there are ways to compensate...
...common as the loss of taste or olfactory sensitivity is, people are often unaware that they are suffering from it. "If your vision goes, you say, 'My vision isn't what it used to be. I have glaucoma.' If your hearing is poor, you say, 'Please speak louder. My hearing isn't good.' But if your taste and smell decline, you blame the food," says Susan Schiffman, a researcher at Duke University Medical Center. Many people also believe, erroneously, that flavor is perceived through taste alone; in fact, smell supplies all the nuances of flavor, enabling us to distinguish...
...problems caused by such loss of sense can be more than aesthetic. People who prepare their own food may unconsciously adjust to a gradual loss in sensitivity by brewing a stronger cup of coffee or adding more seasoning to foods. But ignorance can be dangerous. "Some people undereat because food is so unpalatable that they've lost the desire," says Arlene Spark, coordinator of public health nutrition at Hunter College. "Others overeat because they're looking for something that tastes good." Still others omit important food groups, like vegetables, which to smell-impaired people can taste bitter. The dangers...
...perils. Richard Doty, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Smell and Taste Center, believes everyone should be tested regularly, beginning in childhood. "Just knowing that you have a problem will make you more careful with natural gas or make you change to electrical appliances," he says. Besides, smell loss can be a tip-off to an underlying disease that requires medical intervention...
Depending on the cause, however, loss of smell or taste may be reversible. And even when it isn't, there are many ways to boost the pleasures of eating. A variety of textures, colors and temperatures will provide tactile and visual cues to supplement the weakened perception of taste and odor. Make sure the dining room is well lighted, and use white plates so you can see your food. Try ethnic recipes--they tend to be higher in flavor. Grilling naturally puts an additional flavor into a dish. Use flavor-intensive foods like garlic, tomato paste and fruit nectars. Increase...