"We have one type of receptor devoted to sweet, one for salt, one for sour, and one for savory -- but, at the latest count, there are 25 different receptors for bitterness. Scientists believe this variety of bitter receptors capable of detecting thousands of different compounds helps to protect us since poisons and toxins found in nature tend to be bitter tasting." (Devin Powell, Inside Science News Service)
Now a company named Givaudan Flavors Corp. has invented a synthetic compound that will block our bitter receptors. The compound is called GIV3727, which makes you wonder if (like WD-40), it is the 3,727th compound that they tried. Why would anyone want to undo our bodies' natural deterrent mechanism for poisons? Because it makes your food taste good. GIV3727 will be coming soon to a diet soda near you. It has also been suggested that GIV3727 will make Brussels sprouts palatable...I guess not everything that tastes bitter is bad for you.
This could be a major breakthrough in the pharmaceutical industry. I mean serously, have you tried to give a small child or a pet medicine? It usually tastes bad and they don't want to swallow it.
ReplyDeleteYou know the old song, "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down"?
Maybe the 21st century version could be rewritten as "A spoon full of GIV3727 helps the medicine go down"?