New research out of the University of Deakin has discovered that some humans have a sixth sense… for carbohydrates.
And no we’re not talking about a sweet tooth here, if you have an obsession with bread, pasta and pizza it could be down to your particular taste buds.
“It is typically sugar, with its hedonically pleasing sweet taste, that is the most sought-after carbohydrate,” Russell Keast, a professor from Deakin University’s Centre of Advanced Sensory Science, said in a statement.
“But our research has shown that there is a perceivable taste quality elicited by other carbohydrates independent of sweet taste.”
The study – published in the journal Nutrition – tested 34 adults’ sensitivity to two kinds of carbohydrate commonly found in the aforementioned delicious dishes: maltodextrin and oligofructose.
It found that the participants who could taste these carbs more keenly consumed them in higher quantities, and consequently weighed more.
“We specifically looked at waist measurements, as they are a good measure of the risk of dietary related diseases,” said researcher Julia Low.
“Those who were most sensitive to the carbohydrate taste ate more of these foods and had a larger waist.”
If you consider yourself a bit of comfort food-fiend, don’t let these findings scare you into cutting out the essential nutrient. Just make smart choices about the carbs, and the amount, you’re consuming.
Nutritionist Karen Ansel previously told Women’s Health that women should ensure their diet contains whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, whole-wheat couscous, barley, oatmeal, and farro — just keep an eye on your portion sizes.
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health
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