Evolution of Food Preferences Flashcards
Why do we have a preference for salt?
sodium balance in our bodies but humans now get enough from meat (didn’t in EEA), sheep naturally lick minerals as grass = low sodium
What evidence is there for an innate salt preference?
Beauchamp 1987: at 2 years old, child reject food that don’t have enough salt in
Why do we have a preference for sweet foods?
sweet associated with ripeness and quick calories = advantage, human tongue has specific and more sweet receptors
What are the 3 pieces of research which show an innate preference for sweet foods?
Meiselman 1977: all ages prefer sweet. Desor 1973: 1-3 day old humans prefer sweet to non sweet liquids. Bell 1973: eskimos given sugary foods, didn’t reject (not culturally developed sweet preference)
What IDA point can be made about the preference for sweet foods?
Not adaptive now as sweet food is easily and cheaply available
Why do we impulsively eat?
lack self control due to north migration where food was less, needed to eat when food available (EEA)
How did the need to eat impulsively get passed on through generations?
Logue 1998: successful ancestors ate before others could, survived and reproduced to pass on impulsive genes
What IDA point can be made about eating impulsively?
food readily available mostly so now advantageous to have self control
What evidence is there for the embryo protection hypothesis?
Profet 1992: morning sickness in 75% women. Buss 2008: women most avoid: tea, meat, coffee, alcohol, eggs, veg (caffeine and bacteria harm foetus)
What evidence is there for a preference for familiar foods?
poisoned rats blame unfamiliar not familiar foods, Nesse and Williams 1994: young children dislike broccoli and Brussels sprouts: toxic chemicals for young
What research supports the ‘wisdom of the body’ theory?
Davis 1928: infants has 10-12 healthy foods, chose best for diet, innate preference
What IDA point can be made about familiar foods and avoiding during pregnancy?
main biological systems have long evolution so animal research relevant as similar, reductionist as doesn’t account for social/cultural change
What is taste aversion learning?
evolutionary advantage to avoid food that makes sick
Who conducted research on rats into taste aversion learning?
Garcia and Koelling 1966: rats stopped drinking water when nauseous but not when shocked (needed to learn shock but innate response if thought water made sick)
Who conducted research on wolves into taste aversion learning?
Garcia, Rusiniak, Brett 1977: wolves sick with meat mildly poisoned and wrapped in sheepskin, wolves then avoided live sheep
