People sensitive to the taste of fat tend to eat less of it and are less likely to be overweight, according to Australian research that found human tongues can detect fatty tastes. Researchers at Deakin University, working with colleagues at the University of Adelaide among others, found that fat was the sixth taste people can identify in addition to the five others - sweet, sour, salty, bitter and protein-rich. In a statement, Deakin researcher Russell Keast said the findings built on previous research in the United States that used animal models to discover the taste for fat. “Interestingly, we also found that those with a high sensitivity to the taste of fat consumed less fatty foods and had lower BMIs (body-mass indices) than those with lower sensitivity,” Keast added. The research team developed a screening procedure to test the ability of people to taste a range of fatty acids commonly found in foods. They found that people have a taste threshold for fat that varies from person to person - some people have a high sensitivity to the taste while others do not. The researchers said the discovery of the fat taste could be key to reducing obesity.
