The first thing you should know is that loss of the sense of taste is extraordinarily rare. Taste is critical to our survival and Mother Nature has endowed us with an amazingly resilient and redundant taste system. It’s likely that any loss in flavor perception is due to a decrease in the sense of smell. That said, it’s still a good idea to test both senses.

These are warning signs that either sense may be compromised:

•    An increase in appetite*
•    Weight gain*
•    A loss of appetite*
•    Weight loss*
•    Excessive (and unusual for the person) use of salt on food
•    Excessive (and unusual for the person) use of sugar in beverages or food
•    Depression
•    Loss of interest in food, cooking, or dining out

* It may seem counter-intuitive that loss of flavor perception can produce both weight gain and weight loss. However, each of us handles challenges in our own way.

Some people who lose flavor eat more, hoping to get the same intensity of flavor from food that they remember. They’re searching for a level of enjoyment that’s elusive to them now. Some people who lose flavor eat less, since they get less impact from food, and as a result, less enjoyment. It’s as personal as all our other personality traits!