Table of contents:
- How can we improve the function of our sense of smell and taste?
- 1. Get enough iron and omega-3s every day
- 2. Pay attention to your eating habits
- 3. Stop smoking and avoid vehicle fumes
- 4. Adequate water intake and regular exercise in the morning
- 5. Avoid strong odors and preservative foods
The effects of aging change not only your physical appearance, but also the function of your five senses. However, that does not mean you can underestimate this change. The sense of smell that has begun to smell less sharp is reported to be associated with an increased risk of brain cognitive disorders, such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Meanwhile, the function of the sense of taste can cause loss of the ability to distinguish the taste and texture of food, which in turn can affect eating habits and health conditions.
Apart from getting older, sickness can also inhibit the function of the nose and mouth to taste food. When experiencing inflammation or infection, TNF-α protein levels in the body will increase to fight the disease. Increased levels of this protein cause disruption in the function of the tongue which makes whatever you eat or drink taste more bitter than usual. During the flu or cold, the nose also becomes blocked by mucus, making it less sharp to smell.
How can we improve the function of our sense of smell and taste?
Losing your sense of smell and taste can be bad for you to detect danger. You can not tell the difference between stale food or even smell gas leaks.
So, so that your nose and tongue stay healthy and always function well, let's follow these tips.
1. Get enough iron and omega-3s every day
Without realizing it, the intake of nutrients from our daily food can support the good functioning of your five senses. Iron in particular helps the nose function to smell odors, while omega-3s maintain the tongue's function of detecting food textures and distinguishing tastes.
You can get these two important minerals from various types of fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines; shellfish; lean beef; nuts; and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or mustard greens.
2. Pay attention to your eating habits
Not only food choices, your eating habits also need to be considered. Poor eating habits can affect the function of the nose and tongue.
Now to hone the function of these two senses, make sure you eat when your nose is working very well, when hungry. Try to smell the food first before starting to eat and get a sense of where the smell is coming from. For example, guess, does the smell of the crumb come from cumin or turmeric?
Then while eating, chew it slowly and calmly so that your tongue can better recognize the texture and taste of the food. Avoid foods that are too hot or too cold.
3. Stop smoking and avoid vehicle fumes
Smoking is a habit that is self-defeating (and of others, of course!). Smoking makes you more prone to gum disease, mouth sores, and other diseases that can interfere with the function of your tongue.
In addition, cigarette smoke can disrupt the performance of the receptors in the nose and tongue. In the long run, the olfactory nerves that are behind the nose as smellers can be permanently damaged.
Apart from cigarette smoke, you should also avoid vehicle smoke. Stay away from people who are smoking and always use a nose mask when going out.
4. Adequate water intake and regular exercise in the morning
Drinking lots of water prevents you from dehydration which is characterized by dry mouth. Without enough saliva, the tongue cannot work properly to taste food.
Also get used to doing simple exercise, such as a leisurely walk, brisk walk, or run for 30 minutes every day. It would be better if it was done in the morning. Morning exercise provides you with a fresher and cleaner supply of air, which helps maintain the good function of the nose in breathing air.
5. Avoid strong odors and preservative foods
Smelling strong odors, such as trash, perfume, or spray, can affect the health of your nose. Linger in the smell of a strong odor can cause severe headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Instead, try to inhale more soothing scents, such as peppermint or cinnamon aromatherapy oil, which can increase nasal stimulation to become sharper.
In addition, reduce preservative foods that contain added salt and sugar. If you are accustomed to eating this type of food, your tongue will certainly not be able to detect foods that are actually too salty or too sweet. Foods that are too salty or sweet also make your mouth thirsty and dry easily.
