Week 4

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Questions and Answers

What is the estimated percentage of Australians who are currently overweight or obese?

60% (correct)

30%

40%

50%

What is the estimated percentage of Australians expected to be obese by 2025?

1 in 3 (correct)

1 in 5

1 in 2

1 in 4

What is the estimated amount of public money currently spent on diet-related diseases in Australia?

500 million$/year

1 billion$/year (correct)

2 billion$/year

1.5 billion$/year

What percentage of daily energy intake in US adults is from added sugar?

20%+ Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is indirectly responsible for the current dictatorship in Fiji?

Sweet preference Signup and view all the answers

What type of receptor does the tongue have for sweetness?

One type Signup and view all the answers

What does preference refer to in the context of food choice?

Relative liking for a particular food Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Omnivore’s problem' related to?

Determining which food subsets are safe to eat Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation historically on the number of species of plant and animal eaten?

Availability Signup and view all the answers

What do the innate systems influencing food choice primarily help determine?

Safety of food Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between liking and preference in the context of food choice?

Preference is relative, liking is absolute Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to study human food choices?

To comprehend the factors that dictate what foods humans choose to eat Signup and view all the answers

According to the biological needs model of food choice, what might drive a person's preference for low fat foods?

Excessive intake of fat Signup and view all the answers

What did Clara Davis's study of toddlers in 1935 aim to demonstrate?

The ability of children to select a balanced diet when given a range of nutritious foods Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the major concerns raised about Clara Davis's study of toddlers?

The preference of children for sweet foods Signup and view all the answers

What does the biological needs model of food choice suggest about the selection of a diet?

People freely choose a diet based on their bodily needs Signup and view all the answers

What was the key human finding from Clara Davis's study of toddlers?

The ability of children to naturally select a nutritionally complete diet Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the idea that our bodies can naturally select a nutritionally complete diet?

The wisdom of the body Signup and view all the answers

Which factor influences preference for bitter foods?

Cultural and experiential factors Signup and view all the answers

What advantage may cystic fibrosis carriers have in certain situations?

Excreting less salt Signup and view all the answers

What do neonates demonstrate an innate aversion to?

Bitter tastes Signup and view all the answers

Which population has the genetic ability to produce lactase into adulthood?

Northern Europeans Signup and view all the answers

What is associated with specific food preferences according to the text?

Personality traits Signup and view all the answers

What plays a crucial role in shaping food preferences?

The capacity to learn about food Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of endogenous opioids in sweet taste preference?

Modulate sweet taste preference in the brain Signup and view all the answers

How does salt deprivation affect sensory perception?

Causes a preference for higher salt concentrations Signup and view all the answers

At what age do babies develop a preference for salt?

By four months Signup and view all the answers

How is maternal dehydration during pregnancy linked to salt preference in children?

Influences a child's preference for higher salt concentrations Signup and view all the answers

What influences salt cravings in humans, according to the evidence?

Hormonal changes, climate, and exercise Signup and view all the answers

How do low salt diets impact preference for saltier foods, based on longitudinal studies?

Reduce preference for saltier foods Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Science of Sweet and Salt Cravings

Sweet taste preference is hard-wired in humans and other animals.
Sweet taste preference is modulated by endogenous opioids in the brain.
Genetic evidence suggests a strong predisposition for liking sweet things.
Salt is an essential part of the diet and has triggered historical events like the Salt March in India.
Salt deprivation leads to dehydration and changes in sensory perception, causing a preference for higher salt concentrations.
Babies initially have low sensitivity to salt, but develop a preference for it by four months.
Maternal dehydration during pregnancy may influence a child's preference for higher salt concentrations.
Evidence in humans suggests salt cravings are under direct physiological control, influenced by hormonal changes, climate, and exercise.
The recommended daily allowance of salt for adults is 6g, with excessive intake increasing the risk of diseases.
Longitudinal studies indicate that low salt diets reduce preference for saltier foods.
Food labeling may obfuscate the quantity of salt present, potentially influencing consumer behavior.
Understanding the physiological and genetic basis of sweet and salt cravings can help in managing diet and health.

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Test your knowledge of the science behind sweet and salt cravings with this quiz. Explore the genetic, physiological, and historical aspects of these cravings, and learn how they impact our diet and health.