L7 & L8 | Food Choice I

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Questions and Answers

What role do innate systems play in food selection?

They eliminate cultural influences on diet.

They establish food availability based solely on taste.

They limit the availability of food species.

They determine what is considered safe to eat. (correct)

Which of the following factors is NOT mentioned as influencing food choices?

Modern cooking techniques (correct)

Cultural definitions of food

Innate systems

Historical availability

How many species of plants and animals are historically consumed?

Over 1,000

Around 400

Between 200 to 400 (correct)

Fewer than 200

What is one significant factor currently limiting food diversity?

Commercial imperatives for production. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of food choice is influenced by cultural definitions?

Species diversity in diets Signup and view all the answers

What was a major focus of Clara Davis's study on toddlers?

Toddlers were provided with a wide range of nutritious foods. Signup and view all the answers

Which concern raised about Davis's work relates to the impact of caregivers on dietary choices?

Nutrition modeling effects Signup and view all the answers

What observation was made regarding the toddlers' food preferences over time?

They tended to binge on specific foods but selected a balanced diet long-term. Signup and view all the answers

How may social interactions affect children's food choices according to the content?

They can reinforce preferences for specific sweet foods. Signup and view all the answers

What was a noted limitation in the diversity of the diet for the children involved in Davis's study?

The children preferred the sweetest foods. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the relative preference for one food over another?

Preference Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors can influence human food choices?

Biopsychosocial factors Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of plant and animal species are likely edible?

80% Signup and view all the answers

Which innate food selection system is likely to impact what foods humans choose?

Biological taste preferences Signup and view all the answers

How do historical food choices shape current diets?

Through the establishment of dietary restrictions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best represents cultural influences on diet?

Traditional cooking practices and meal customs Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor for rejecting certain foods despite their edibility?

Cultural taboos Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least likely to determine food choices among people in different cultures?

Global market trends Signup and view all the answers

What evolutionary significance does our preference for sweet foods have?

It provides a natural inclination towards energy-rich foods, historically rare. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks have on the body?

They can lead to ineffective energy measurement resulting in obesity. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key finding from studies on newborns related to sweet food preferences?

Newborns preferred sucrose over plain stimuli, indicating innate liking. Signup and view all the answers

How is the body’s response to liquid calories different from solid calories?

Liquid calories do not trigger hormonal responses that signal fullness. Signup and view all the answers

What behavior is observed in rats and newborn babies when exposed to sucrose?

They show an ingestive facial expression that indicates pleasure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of high-calorie milkshakes on preference over time?

Individuals tend to like high-calorie milkshakes more after several exposures. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of associating food flavors with sweetness?

It enhances the ability to identify tasty food through sight and smell. Signup and view all the answers

What evidence is lacking regarding the medicinal flavor associations in humans?

Evidence showing humans can strongly associate flavors with the effectiveness of medicines. Signup and view all the answers

How does drug-flavor learning manifest in humans, particularly concerning caffeine?

Humans often prefer flavors linked to caffeine when they miss their coffee. Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely result of learned dislikes in food preferences?

Potential aversions to certain food flavors that may be initially liked. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Aymara people's acceptance of bitter tastes compared to other groups?

They reject bitter tastes at lower concentrations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main carbohydrate found in milk that makes it slightly sweet?

Lactose Signup and view all the answers

At what age do most humans lose the ability to produce lactase?

2-3 years Signup and view all the answers

Why can Northern Europeans consume milk into adulthood, unlike most other animals?

They have developed a genetic ability to produce lactase. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does exposure to bitter foods have on individual preferences?

It can help individuals develop a preference for bitter foods. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups is noted for accepting high levels of bitterness in their diet?

Tamarind consuming peoples Signup and view all the answers

What does the inability to increase lactase availability with lactose exposure suggest?

There is a significant genetic component to lactase production. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main factor that allows babies to consume milk without issue?

The presence of lactase in infancy. Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the kidney-renin-angiotensin system during salt deprivation?

Dehydration due to water expulsion Signup and view all the answers

How does salt deprivation affect sensory response according to the content provided?

Decreases response to high salt concentrations Signup and view all the answers

Which period of life shows a notable change in salt consumption preference according to the content?

By four months Signup and view all the answers

What might explain the higher salt preference in children of dehydrated mothers?

Epigenetic changes due to prenatal conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which study provided evidence for direct physiological control over salt craving in humans?

Wilkin & Richter, 1940 involving an adrenal tumor patient Signup and view all the answers

What potential long-term effect was observed in generations of women who experienced starvation during pregnancy?

Greater propensity for diabetes and metabolic disorders Signup and view all the answers

Why might a baby exposed to a high salt formula initially not react to it?

Lack of taste nerve development Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable outcome for individuals experiencing a higher salt craving?

Increased preference for salt as a byproduct of dehydration Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely reason lactase production does not increase in adult lactose intolerant individuals?

Lactase production is genetically predetermined Signup and view all the answers

What evolutionary advantage is associated with the ability to digest milk in pastoralist societies?

Survival during famine due to milk consumption Signup and view all the answers

Which population is notably associated with higher lactose tolerance?

Tuaregs in Africa Signup and view all the answers

What personality trait is linked to a higher intake of fruits and vegetables?

Agreeableness Signup and view all the answers

Impulsivity in personality traits is primarily associated with which dietary behavior?

Increased consumption of fast foods Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the upcoming lecture mentioned in the content?

The importance of learning in influencing food choices Signup and view all the answers

Which model suggests that our food choices are driven by our body's nutrient needs?

Biological needs model Signup and view all the answers

If a person is deficient in iron, what type of food are they likely to crave according to the biological needs model?

Iron-rich foods Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'the wisdom of the body' refer to in the context of food choice?

The body's drive to eat foods that fulfill nutritional needs Signup and view all the answers

Which vitamin's deficiency is linked to a higher reliance on calcium absorption from milk?

Vitamin D Signup and view all the answers

What factor may influence an individual's preference for hot and spicy foods?

Sensation seeking Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is least likely to influence food preferences according to the content?

Social media trends Signup and view all the answers

In what way can personality traits influence food choices?

By shaping preferences for certain food types Signup and view all the answers

Which region's pastoralists are expected to show higher lactose tolerance due to their environment?

Northern Europe Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended daily allowance of salt for adults?

6g Signup and view all the answers

How does salt preference change with dietary alterations?

Low salt diets reduce preference for salty foods. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor influences salt ingestion according to the studies mentioned?

Geographic location and climate Signup and view all the answers

What happens to preference for salty foods after vigorous exercise?

Participants tend to add more salt to soups for a duration post-exercise. Signup and view all the answers

What misconception exists regarding salt quantity in food labeling?

Salt content is understated to reduce perceived amount. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Food Choice I

The broader problem of food choice and innate factors are based on Logue Ch.5
Appetite: The psychology of eating and drinking
What dictates human food choice?
- Factors dictating what foods we choose to eat will be examined
- Definitions: liking and preference
  - Preference is relative (e.g., stale bread vs deep-fried spider)
  - Liking is absolute (e.g., neither would probably be liked)
Study of food choice is important for health reasons
- Dietary choices have a major effect on health
- Obesity/overweight is increasing at 1% per year
- Avoidance of dietary-related cancer and heart disease (e.g., processed meats and colon cancer; saturated fat and heart disease)
- Cost savings from avoiding diet-related diseases
- Improving diet is cheaper than psychotherapy and helps with recovery from depression
Study of food choice is important for business reasons
- Processed food manufacture in Australia has a large turnover (74 Billion dollars in 10 years)
- Fast food sales alone in 2015 were worth 17 Billion dollars
- Food and liquor sales account for nearly half of all retail spending
- Australian food exports are worth 30 Billion dollars, accounting for 11% of exports, and processed food is the most profitable sector
Innate preferences
- Genetic and environmental influences on food preferences interact
- Focus on food preferences influenced by genes, examining five cases (sweet, salty, milk, personality, and other factors)

Innate Preferences

Although it's simpler to split the discussion into genetic vs environmental influences, they generally interact
Bitter sensitivity is moderated by parental influence
Focus on food preferences that are primarily influenced by genes
Five cases: sweet, milk, salty, bitter, personality factors (neophobia)
Emphasize that the most important genetic disposition is capacity to learn about food

Sweet

In almost every animal studied, a sweetened food is preferred over a non-sweetened one.
Sweet foods typically signal calories, energy, and are relatively rare (e.g., honey, honey ants, fruits).
Liking for sweet foods has several effects, including a role in African slavery and current high rates of sugar consumption in the US
It's a significant factor in obesity: liquid form of sugar causes minimal fullness and compensation

Is liking or preference for sucrose in our genes?

Newborns even prefer sucking a sucrose-impregnated nipple to a plain one

Physiology

The tongue has one type of sweetness receptor, which passes signals to the chorda tympani nerve (more fibers dedicated to 'sweet' than other tastes)
This nerve sends signals to areas in the brain that drive liking for sweetness (periaqueductal gray and nucleus accumbens shell)

Genetic Evidence I

Table sugar breaks down into fructose in the gut; intolerance is caused by an inability to move fructose across the gut wall or (making a person quite unwell)
The failure to find difference in sucrose consumption/liking between MZ and DZ twins for sweet things also suggests, it's probably similar in many people

Genetic Evidence II

Preference to like sucrose can be bred into rats
Concentration of peak liking to sucrose can be shifted upward, selectively breeding rats who like the sweetest things
Reduction of sucrose liking in 'supertasters'due to more sweetness receptors

Salt

Many animals and people will go to great lengths to obtain salt, which is often not readily available
Salt is essential for many functions, including maintaining blood pressure and hydration
During times of limited access to salt, people often go to great lengths to find it.
Salt is an essential part of our diet and lack of salt is fatal
Reflects in the Roman word for salary as it came from the Roman word for a salt ration

Salt Craving in Humans I

Babies may not be initially sensitive to salt, but they readily consume salt-formulas, after mixing errors, showing they can't taste high levels of it, but have readily consumed and react to it
Mothers exposed to dehydration during pregnancy may have children who prefer higher salt concentrations

Salt Craving in Humans II

What evidence do we have in humans that salt cravings are directly under physiological control?
Demonstrating that salt preferences peak in adolescence suggests a role for hormones
Exercise and salt preferences (increased salt cravings after intense exercise)
Evidence in mice that experience of high saline diet produces less frostbite when compared to a low salt diet

Salt in Food

Salt is added as a bulking agent, preservative, and flavor enhancer in processed foods; this is a major reason for excess salt consumption

Evolution and Salt Craving

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the intestines and airways
Carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene excrete far less salt, which may be beneficial in certain environments

Bitter

Things that are bitter are almost always poisonous, hence the facial expression for bitter foods
Exposure does appear to affect preference for bitter foods: If people are exposed to bitter tastes, their preference for bitter foods can be reduced
The Aymara people in Latin America reject bitter tastes

Milk

Being a mammal is synonymous with consumption of milk in infancy, specifically milk is slightly sweet (7% lactose), and it comes as no surprise that infants readily consume it.
No animal consumes milk into adulthood, the puzzle of why Norther Europeans can/do consume milk into adulthood
A key question is why can people tolerate milk (e.g., Northern Europeans) longer into adulthood when other mammals don't.

Lactase

Loss of lactase production after 2-3 years of age in humans makes the ability to tolerate milk, in Northern Europeans, a consequence of exposure (continued consumption) rather than genetic ability to produce lactase.

Genetic Control of Lactase I

The ability to produce lactase into adulthood is likely determined by genetics
Two evolutionary arguments for genetic traits tied to lactase tolerance (famine means death and vitamin D/calcium absorption)

Genetic Control of Lactase II

The pastoralist account of lactase tolerance is supported by its presence in North-South gradient in Europe (c.f. cloud cover), correlating with average cloud cover
Also evident in all pastoralist societies, such as Tuaregs in Africa
Presence of lactose tolerance is a dominant genetic trait, enabling for rapid spread in populations

Personality

Personality traits are heritable, influencing food preferences (e.g., conscientiousness is linked to fruit and veg intake)
Impulsivity is linked to higher consumption of risky foods, like fast foods, processed foods, and soft drinks

Genes - Conclusion

Strong genetic influences on preferences for sweet, salty, bitter foods, and milk tolerance.
Capacity to learn about food as the most important genetic influence on food choices.
Learning about what and how to eat is a major focus for a later lecture.

Food Choice II

Biological, Experience, and Development aspects of food preferences.

A Biological Needs Model of Food Choice

Many believe food likes and dislikes are dictated by biological needs for specific micro/macronutrients
If the body is deficient in a particular nutrient (e.g., iron, vitamin B) it will try to seek that particular food for its needs
Wisdom of the body" theory: suggests that if people could freely choose any food and eat for their nutritional needs, their body will choose a diet that perfectly meets those needs- but is that accurate

Wisdom of the Body I

Idea that bodies can naturally select a nutritionally complete diet developed between 1900 and 1960
Clara Davies's study in 1935 and similar work in animals is a critical finding in the human domain

Wisdom of the Body II

Concerns about how social interaction and circumstances might affect food preference choices, and potentially influence observations on the ability of people/animals to choose healthy diets

Wisdom of the Body III - Animals

Strongest claims for the wisdom-of-the-body theory is in animal studies examining thiamine deficiency in rats (rats can select diets rich in thiamine if they've been deprived of it, but it might be due to an aversion to previous deficient diet)

Wisdom of the Body IV - Animals

Broader look at animal data doesn't strongly support the wisdom-of-the-body theory
Early studies often lacked statistical analysis
When more palatable alternatives are available, animals will choose them (over healthier, less desirable foods).

Wisdom of the Body V - Scurvy

Individuals with scurvy (lack of Vitamin C) show a similar lack of self-selection when deciding what to eat
It took 200 years for the world to determine the link between diet and scurvy, showcasing how biological choices aren't necessarily indicative of what's needed

Advertising I

Advertising of food, especially to children in the United States is very powerful
The amount of money spent on advertising food (e.g., fast food) is extremely high
Children, exposed to food advertisements, often request those advertisements (to their parents) leading to greater likelihood of purchase

Advertising II

Child-oriented ads are most effective when foods or drinks are associated with particular TV characters
Research shows that exposure to TV ads and subsequently asking for purchase is overwhelmingly correlated with higher consumption and purchases among children.

Getting from Milk to Adult-Like Food Preferences

The cumulative effect of various childhood experiences in shaping adult food preferences
Exposure to foods and learning about nutritional value and preferences

Conclusion

Both innate and experiential factors are important in shaping food choices.
The most important determinant of what people eat is their culture: Cultural norms about food dictate what is safe and permissible to eat and not to eat. The main focus of the next lecture.

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Description

Explore the psychology behind human food choices based on Logue Chapter 5. This quiz delves into factors influencing our preferences and likings, along with implications for health and business. Learn how understanding food choice can impact obesity, dietary-related diseases, and economic factors.