Do you think broccoli tastes bitter? Don't blame the cook! Last week, researchers announced that what tastes good or bad can depend on the taster's genes. Genes are the chemical instructions that make you who you are. They determine the color of your eyes and the shape of your nose and face. Now scientists know that they also determine how many taste buds are on your tongue.
One-quarter of people are supertasters. They have so many taste buds that they find the flavor of some foods unpleasantly strong. Cabbage seems very bitter to them, while chocolate seems way too sweet. One-quarter are nontasters, with few taste buds. Half are medium tasters who enjoy most foods.
But don't use your genes as an excuse to skip your veggies! For vitamins and other nutrients, vegetables are always in good taste. Here's how much of the five favorite vegetables an average American ate in 1996:
1. Potatoes: 49 lbs., about 147 potatoes
2. Lettuce: 25 lbs., about 37 medium heads of iceberg lettuce
3. Onions: 16 lbs., about 64 medium onions
4. Tomatoes: 16 lbs., about 40 medium tomatoes
5. Carrots: 8 lbs., about 48 medium carrots
Source: United States Department of Agriculture and the Produce Marketing Association