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Longevity by Design

Taste and Smell Preferences and Their Impact on Health with Dr. Yanina Pepino

Nov 6, 2024
Dr. Yanina Pepino, a Professor of Ingestive Behavior at the University of Illinois, delves into the intriguing connection between taste preferences and health. She discusses how early exposure to flavors, especially during pregnancy, can shape lifelong dietary choices. Yanina highlights the role of bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications in transforming food cravings, promoting healthier options. The conversation also uncovers the metabolic effects of non-nutritive sweeteners and their implications for mindful eating, offering valuable insights for better health.
01:01:46

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Dr. Pepino emphasizes that maternal diet during pregnancy significantly shapes a child's future taste preferences and eating habits.
  • Bariatric surgery can lead to altered taste preferences, encouraging patients to adopt healthier eating habits post-procedure for sustained weight loss.

Deep dives

The Innate Preference for Sweetness

Premature babies exhibit an innate response to sweetness, smiling in reaction to sweet stimuli. This natural preference is rooted in our biology, where sweetness and fats are rewarding sensations, triggering endorphin release and making us feel good. As a result, when surrounded by an environment rich in sweet and fatty foods, individuals are biologically inclined to consume more of these items. Understanding this impulse underscores the importance of modifying our eating habits to associate healthier options with positive post-ingestive outcomes.

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