Taste Impacts Health! Those who prefer this taste for a long time, beware of liver damage~

Everyone has different taste preferences. Some people like sweet, while others prefer spicy. You may think this is only related to personal preferences, but in reality, taste also determines your physical health! 

Hidden in taste are signals of health. 

Normal taste is usually related to geography, lifestyle and dietary habits, and genetic factors. You can eat a little bit of any taste, or slightly prefer certain tastes. 

Pathological taste is usually related to diseases. If there is a sudden change in taste, it may be a health warning for your body. Consuming a certain taste appropriately can nourish the corresponding organ. However, if you prefer a certain taste for a long time, it may harm the corresponding organ. And if you suddenly develop a preference for a certain taste, it may be a manifestation of problems with the corresponding organ. 

Taste reflects health. 

If you prefer sour taste, pay attention to the liver. 

The liver's natural taste is sour, and consuming sour foods in moderation can nourish the liver. However, excessive craving for sour taste can easily lead to liver stagnation and Qi imbalance. Sudden love for sour taste may be a reflection of liver problems. Excessive consumption of sour taste can also hinder the normal physiological functions of the stomach, affecting digestion, and leading to a series of spleen and stomach problems. 

If you prefer bitter taste, pay attention to heart fire. 

Bitterness enters the heart. Consuming bitter taste appropriately can clear heart fire and relieve summer heat. But excessive craving for bitter taste is often a manifestation of excessive heart fire, with common symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, mouth sores, and red tongue tip. Although bitter foods have certain nutritional value, most of them have a cold nature. Long-term excessive craving for bitter taste not only damages heart Qi, but also exacerbates symptoms of poor appetite, cold abdominal pain, and diarrhea caused by spleen and stomach deficiency-cold. 

If you prefer sweet taste, pay attention to the spleen and stomach. 

Consuming sweet taste appropriately can nourish the spleen and stomach, which is why many spleen-tonifying medicines are sweet. However, excessive craving for sweetness can obstruct the middle burner, leading to phlegm-dampness formation and further damage to the spleen. In addition, excessive craving for sweetness can also obstruct the spleen and stomach or further damage them, leading to symptoms such as poor appetite and indigestion. Of course, craving for sweetness can also lead to diseases such as tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity. 

If you prefer spicy taste, pay attention to lung Qi. 

The main sources of spicy taste are ginger and garlic. Consuming them in moderation can help dispel external pathogens, regulate Qi and blood, and promote sweating. Sichuan Province has a heavy dampness, so there are relatively more people who love spicy foods (such as Sichuan peppercorns). However, long-term excessive craving for spicy taste can easily lead to excessive lung Qi dispersion, Qi depletion, and mental exhaustion. Common symptoms include lower back pain, numbness, fatigue, dizziness, and a sense of pressure in the head. In addition, excessive love for spicy food can easily lead to gastrointestinal and anorectal diseases. 

If you prefer salty taste, pay attention to the kidneys. 

Moderate amount of salty taste can nourish the kidneys, but long-term excessive craving for salty taste can damage the kidneys, resulting in kidney Qi deficiency or kidney function disorders, such as lower back pain, decreased sexual desire, and reduced reproductive ability. If the kidney yang is damaged, it can easily lead to internal heat and may cause diseases such as hypertension and heart disease. It is important to consciously reduce salt intake in order to prevent the vicious cycle of taste buds becoming duller and the taste becoming saltier. 

What to do if there is a sudden change in taste? 

When the body undergoes changes, the tongue will naturally choose tastes that are beneficial to itself. At this time, the body may have already experienced organic changes, or it may be a change in constitution. 

Therefore, when you or your family members experience a sudden change in taste, you must identify the cause and seek medical advice from a TCM specialist in gastroenterology. At the same time, it is recommended to undergo Western medical examinations to screen for organic changes if necessary. If there are organic changes, targeted treatment should be given. If there are no organic changes, TCM regulation can be used to improve the constitution. 

One should never indulge in a particular taste change and consume excessive amounts of a certain taste, as this can lead to an imbalance of the five tastes. It may not only damage the corresponding organs but also bring other consequences. Therefore, even if you have a strong preference for a certain taste or suddenly crave a certain taste, it is advisable to restrain yourself as much as possible.