Absolutely! Nutritional supplements and herbal products are really foods, and hence should be tasted when taken. The only exceptions to this rule are:
- 1) Supplements that contain hydrochloric acid or other strong acids (e.g., ribonucleic acid.) The acidity of these supplements is enough to damage tooth enamel if they are routinely chewed.
- 2) Time-release supplements that are designed to be slowly broken down and absorbed in the digestive system.
Taste bud nerve endings are hard-wired not only to the taste centers of our brains, but to pathways leading to muscles. When we taste foods, we get an immediate reaction. In the case of a tainted food, we are able to spit it out before it gets deeper into our digestive systems. This is probably the reason that our mouths are closer to our brains than to our stomachs.
Posted in: 5 - NUTRITION: Indicator Testing
