Admittedly, this is not necessarily a comparative physiology topic. But I couldn’t help exploring this idea as I am munching on a chocolate chip cookie that smelled just too appetizing to walk by.
Some restaurants have been accused of intentionally “pumping” out enticing smells to attract customers. After all, the aromas of cooking and baking can attract hungry customers, as well as those who had no intention of seeking out food before they found themselves following the scent trail. In fact, there are actually companies that sell scent diffusers that spread the smell of fresh baked cookies – without actually baking any cookies.
It is perhaps not surprising that our nutritional status – whether we are hungry or satiated – impacts our sensitivity to smells. We are more sensitive to smells when we are hungry. Odors are sensed by special neurons in our nose. The information from these neurons is collected in the olfactory bulb and the olfactory cortex in our brain where that information is processed so we can make conscious decisions about foods.
Our sense of smell regulates our appreciation and selection of foods to consume. According to a recently published article in the American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism, it also appears to help regulate the way our bodies use energy. In fact, olfactory neurons have receptors for hormones such as insulin, leptin, and ghrelin, which are thought to regulate our perception of smells. Some studies have even shown that targeting these neurons increases metabolism and improves glucose regulation, which may offer a new way to treat obesity and obesity-related pathologies.
Source:
M Lopez, JM Fernandez-Real, SI Tomarev. Obesity wars: May the smell be with you. American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism. 324(6): E569-E576, 2023.
Categories: Diet and Exercise
Tags: American Journal of Physiology, American Physiological Society, food, metabolism, obesity, olfaction, smell, weight loss
Life Lines by Dr. Dolittle 