22.6.10

Flavorful MOODS Anyone?


By Vanessa de la Rue

It’s undeniable that food consumption causes extreme pleasure; it produces a gratifying feeling of relaxation not to mention the fulfillment of the basic necessity for survival. It is said that some flavors or tastes may affect our mood and temper. For example, chocolate is supposed to correct deficien- cies of some neurotransmitters like serotonin. But, studies show that other issues, besides chocolate and other foods, intervene in the mood swings we experience.
I believe it’s a reality that many people relate certain attitudes and emotions with the cravings for something they feel like hav- ing. It’s also true that we all prefer certain tastes depending on our state of mind and vibe during that exact moment. That is why some days you may despise a plate that you commonly eat. The sudden feeling is, most likely, because your temper is going through a phase.
An example of this theory arises when we think of chocolate, ice cream, coffee or cake; the texture, taste and smell of these items play an important role in our brain since from the moment we think of them, we begin to enjoy the expectation while our bodies (psychologically or not) react to the stimulus.
Many studies analyze how our preferences for different flavors change, depending on our mood. Because of this, when we feel down or negative we tend to go for junk food as a masochist. On the other hand, when we feel positive and are upbeat, our first option is to go for something healthy, as to protect and take care of our bodies. Another great example is that anxious peo- ple, when at their nervous peak, are inclined to go for greater quantities of food while others, can do exactly the opposite and not eat at all.



Marie Wright, a creative flavorist we spoke to says, “the power of taste is unbelievable... I think that flavor affects many aspects of mood. Flavor is a total mélange of emotions. Musk notes in brown sugar flavors are so very evocative to me. Citrus fla- vors are kind of refreshing and happy. My experience of flavor is that when you eat something evocative it tends to remind a person of an event or a place. That’s why I think that flavor is a stronger tool for the emotions than scent... Bad smells? Plenty of them! But once incorporated into a flavor, can taste absolutely delicious. Many of the components of coffee, meat and fish can smell disgusting. The ripe note of strawberry is pretty revolting, but in the correct quantity it makes the flavor taste wonderful.”
I think it’s amazing that we can satisfy basic necessities with so much richness in variety and quality. I propose that you try and see if all this is true, by tasting different flavors and paying atten- tion to your mood and emotions, as subtle as these may be.
So, go ahead and let me know what you find out. I say farewell to you, hoping you can enjoy your favorite aromas and feelings, all at the same time.