<p>Reasons why we do or do not like certain foods:</p>

<p><strong>1. Taste</strong></p>

<p>I may want to eat foods <em>that taste pleasantly:</em> chocolate, cakes, fried chicken and...sweet cabbage (?!).</p>

<p><strong>2. Bowel regularity</strong></p>

<p>I discover that whole-grain bread makes wonders to my bowel regularity, which <em>makes my stomach to feel good,</em> which overweights a bit bitter taste of such bread in my mouth, so I start to like it.</p>

<p><strong>3. Health concerns</strong></p>

<p>I read that fast food may not be healthy, so I stop eating it and <em>start to feel better in general,</em> and, with time, I will <em>actually</em> stop liking fast food.</p>

<p><strong>4. Nutrient deficiencies</strong></p>

<p>If I have a period in which I eat very few plant foods, I'll start to crave things, like green salad. I believe, I can start craving foods that contain certain minerals and vitamins I'm missing (iron, potassium, vitamin C, protein...).</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2491403/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Salt</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4433288/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">craving</a> may be due to low sodium diet or habitual high sodium diet, or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26833639" rel="nofollow noreferrer">zinc deficiency</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sugar craving</a> may be due to need for immediate energy or due to addiction to sweet taste.</li>
<li><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/507929" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Potato craving</a> can be due to potassium deficiency (potatoes are high in potassium).</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748323/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The association between food cravings and consumption of specific foods in a laboratory taste test (PubMed, 2008)</a>. According to the study, you may crave for a certain food just because you regularly eat it.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015153/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Eating everything except food (PICA)</a> can be due to iron or zinc deficiency.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>5. Medical conditions</strong></p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3636818/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)</a> is often associated with salt craving.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407696/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Postprandial hypoglycemia (low blood sugar after meals)</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529377/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">diabetes mellitus type 1</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3109725/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">heroin withdrawal</a> can be associated with sugar craving.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>6. Beliefs</strong></p>

<p>I can just <em>hear or believe</em> that certain food is "not good to eat" or "not good for me" and, just because of this, I might find that food disgusting.</p>

<p><strong>7. Genetics and environment</strong></p>

<p>Genetic and environmental factors can influence food preferences, especially in children and adolescents (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4962164/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PubMed, 2016</a>).</p>

<p><strong>8. Depression</strong></p>

<p>Depression can be associated with craving for foods high in carbohydrates and fats, such as chocolate and chips (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8697046" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PubMed, 1995</a>).</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>In conclusion:</strong> Nutrient deficiencies can be one of the factors for food preference. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-22T12:22:55.107Z
The [NHS](http://www.publichealthwalesobservatory.wales.nhs.uk/a-male-patient-describes-himself-as-havi) source, you've linked says: "We found no reliable high level evidence on NHS testing for candida overgrowth in the bowel or the implications of candida overgrowth in the bowel." I've found no reliable source that would prove that candida overgrowth in the bowel in healthy individuals exists. On the other hand, differences in normal intestinal bacteria and fungi (microbiome) may affect food preferences; I didn't cover that here, but someone else may want to do so in a separate answer.
Jan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-19T12:48:45.137Z
2019-01-19T15:40:14.943Z
2019-01-19T15:40:14.943Z
Jan
<p>I like kiwi. I don't like omelettes. I love berry pies, but I'm not a big fan of potato chips or pretzels.</p>

<p>Human taste preference is seemingly universal, with even young children able to identify foods that they like and dislike, and react appropriately, hungrily seeking the former and rejecting the latter.</p>

<p>But what evolutionary purpose does this serve? Is my dislike of potato chips and pretzels a sign that my body is somehow predisposed to excess sodium, and this distate for the food a compensation mechanism? Is my love of kiwi an indicator of some deficit, perhaps of vitamins C and K, or my more general preference for sour flavors (which tend to indicate acidity) a part of pH regulation?</p>

<p>At its heart, does biological need or deficiency for particular components of a food explain personal preference for that foodstuff, and if not, is there research showing what does?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-15T20:34:27.963Z
Also see: [What are the main theories that account for why some people like X and others not?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/10410/7001)
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-16T17:22:00.117Z
While candies and sweets might be self-explaining, before asking about evolutionary purposes, is there any correlation between one's nutritional needs and ones taste preferences at all?
Al Berko
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-18T08:20:11.577Z
Probably people of different genetic setup have different nutrient needs and their specific taste preferences urge them to seek the foods beneficial to them.
drabsv
<perception><preferences>
What benefit is responsible for human preference of one food over another?
TheEnvironmentalist
# What benefit is responsible for human preference of one food over another?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-15)

I like kiwi. I don't like omelettes. I love berry pies, but I'm not a big fan of potato chips or pretzels.

Human taste preference is seemingly universal, with even young children able to identify foods that they like and dislike, and react appropriately, hungrily seeking the former and rejecting the latter.

But what evolutionary purpose does this serve? Is my dislike of potato chips and pretzels a sign that my body is somehow predisposed to excess sodium, and this distate for the food a compensation mechanism? Is my love of kiwi an indicator of some deficit, perhaps of vitamins C and K, or my more general preference for sour flavors (which tend to indicate acidity) a part of pH regulation?

At its heart, does biological need or deficiency for particular components of a food explain personal preference for that foodstuff, and if not, is there research showing what does?

**Tags:** perception, preferences

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Also see: [What are the main theories that account for why some people like X and others not?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/10410/7001)  
> **username_2**: While candies and sweets might be self-explaining, before asking about evolutionary purposes, is there any correlation between one's nutritional needs and ones taste preferences at all?  
> **username_3**: Probably people of different genetic setup have different nutrient needs and their specific taste preferences urge them to seek the foods beneficial to them.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-01-19. Score: 1

Reasons why we do or do not like certain foods:

**1. Taste**

I may want to eat foods *that taste pleasantly:* chocolate, cakes, fried chicken and...sweet cabbage (?!).

**2. Bowel regularity**

I discover that whole-grain bread makes wonders to my bowel regularity, which *makes my stomach to feel good,* which overweights a bit bitter taste of such bread in my mouth, so I start to like it.

**3. Health concerns**

I read that fast food may not be healthy, so I stop eating it and *start to feel better in general,* and, with time, I will *actually* stop liking fast food.

**4. Nutrient deficiencies**

If I have a period in which I eat very few plant foods, I'll start to crave things, like green salad. I believe, I can start craving foods that contain certain minerals and vitamins I'm missing (iron, potassium, vitamin C, protein...).

* [Salt](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2491403/) [craving](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4433288/) may be due to low sodium diet or habitual high sodium diet, or [zinc deficiency](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26833639).
* [Sugar craving](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/) may be due to need for immediate energy or due to addiction to sweet taste.
* [Potato craving](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/507929) can be due to potassium deficiency (potatoes are high in potassium).
* [The association between food cravings and consumption of specific foods in a laboratory taste test (PubMed, 2008)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748323/). According to the study, you may crave for a certain food just because you regularly eat it.
* [Eating everything except food (PICA)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4015153/) can be due to iron or zinc deficiency.

**5. Medical conditions**

* [Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3636818/) is often associated with salt craving.
* [Postprandial hypoglycemia (low blood sugar after meals)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407696/), [diabetes mellitus type 1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529377/) and [heroin withdrawal](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3109725/) can be associated with sugar craving.

**6. Beliefs**

I can just *hear or believe* that certain food is "not good to eat" or "not good for me" and, just because of this, I might find that food disgusting.

**7. Genetics and environment**

Genetic and environmental factors can influence food preferences, especially in children and adolescents ([PubMed, 2016](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4962164/)).

**8. Depression**

Depression can be associated with craving for foods high in carbohydrates and fats, such as chocolate and chips ([PubMed, 1995](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8697046)).

---

**In conclusion:** Nutrient deficiencies can be one of the factors for food preference.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The [NHS](http://www.publichealthwalesobservatory.wales.nhs.uk/a-male-patient-describes-himself-as-havi) source, you've linked says: "We found no reliable high level evidence on NHS testing for candida overgrowth in the bowel or the implications of candida overgrowth in the bowel." I've found no reliable source that would prove that candida overgrowth in the bowel in healthy individuals exists. On the other hand, differences in normal intestinal bacteria and fungi (microbiome) may affect food preferences; I didn't cover that here, but someone else may want to do so in a separate answer.  

---

