How Flavor Has Guided Human History & The Threat of Pseudoscience - SYSK Choice
Feb 15, 2025
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Rob Dunn, an evolutionary biologist and author of 'Delicious,' explores how flavor has shaped human evolution and culture. He dives into why humans crave flavorful foods and the biological factors influencing our tastes. Meanwhile, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill's Office for Science and Society, tackles the dangers of pseudoscience in health claims, debunking myths surrounding homeopathy and herbal remedies. Their engaging discussion highlights the intersection of culinary history and critical thinking about misleading health practices.
Human taste preferences are influenced by evolution, driving us to seek flavorful experiences, unlike other animals focused solely on nourishment.
Pseudoscience thrives due to difficulties in distinguishing valid scientific claims, emphasizing the need for credible evidence to ensure public health.
Deep dives
The Impact of Freezer Cycles on Ice Cream Quality
Freezers undergoing frost-free cycles can harm the quality of ice cream and other frozen foods. This occurs when the temperature inside the freezer can temporarily rise to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the food to melt slightly before refreezing. During this cycle, water from the food evaporates and then re-freezes as ice crystals when temperatures drop, leading to freezer burn. To mitigate this issue, it is recommended to minimize the air space in packaging, helping to keep moisture within the food.
Evolutionary Roots of Taste Preferences
Human taste preferences are deeply influenced by evolutionary biology and the context of our ancestors' diets. While most animals search for food primarily for nourishment, humans actively pursue flavorful experiences, leading to behaviors like cooking and food preparation. Some animals, such as chimpanzees, demonstrate a quest for tasty food by using tools to access it, like harvesting honey. This pursuit of flavor has shaped human history and dietary choices, highlighting a complex relationship with what we deem delicious.
Flavor Learning Begins Before Birth
Research suggests that babies are born with an innate preference for certain smells based on their mother's diet during pregnancy. Studies indicate that infants respond positively to flavors they were exposed to in utero, such as anise or garlic, showing familiarity and preference towards these scents. This biological mechanism helps introduce newborns to culturally significant foods, enhancing their acceptance and enjoyment. Such early flavor connections demonstrate how flavor preferences are not solely learned but are also biologically pre-wired.
Distinguishing Science from Pseudoscience
Many individuals struggle to differentiate between valid scientific claims and pseudoscience, often believing in unfounded theories and remedies. While people generally think they can recognize quackery, the prevalence of such beliefs has increased, particularly in alternative medicine areas like homeopathy and detox diets. Experts emphasize the importance of looking for credible evidence from research studies rather than relying on anecdotal claims. This necessity for scrutiny helps combat the rising tide of pseudoscientific beliefs affecting public health.
Modern kitchen freezers are actually cruel to ice cream and other frozen foods. This episode begins by explaining why this is and why there is often ice crystals on top of your ice cream and how to prevent them. Source: Professor Richard Hartel author of the book Ice Cream (https://amzn.to/3jNcVrY).
Unlike other animals, we humans have gotten really good at figuring out how to take food and make it taste even better. Why do we do that? And what is it that makes some food taste better than other foods? Is it just our personal preferences or are we all programmed to like the taste of certain foods? What is flavor exactly? All these are questions I discuss with Rob Dunn, an evolutionary biologist and professor at North Carolina State University. He is also the author of the book, Delicious: The Evolution of Flavor and How It Made Us Human (https://amzn.to/3RPAIUM).
Medical quackery is when someone touts the benefits of medical cures or treatments with no actual evidence to support it. While you might think you can spot a quack a mile away, it is actually harder than you think. And while some quack theories may be harmless, others can be dangerous. Dr. Joe Schwarcz has spent his career exposing medical quackery and pseudoscience and he joins me to reveal some common forms of it. If you believe Vitamin C can cure your cold or that herbs can effectively treat cancer, you need to hear this conversation. Joe is Director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, and author of the book, Quack Quack: The Threat of Pseudoscience (https://amzn.to/40JILGO).
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