Food tastes better in keto?

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #1

Today I have eaten grilled red peppers, and I have found them extremely delicious. I always have liked them, but I cannot remember having enjoyed them so much before.

Also, now I am eating a lot of cauliflower, broccoli etc and I find them delicious. I do not remember feeling this way before.

I also smell things better than before, and not only food. For example, I live close to the sea, but I always said that here the sea does not smell at all as a sea. But a few days ago, I was with the window open, and I received a strong sea smell.

Is this reaction common in keto?

(John) #2

One reason we tend to overeat is that many foods are made to be hyper-palatable - as tasty and appealing as possible. Combos of sugars/starches, fats, and salt.

When you have a constant diet of that kind of food, your taste for actual, real food sort of wanes. Who wants to finish their broccoli when they have a big baked potato loaded with salt, butter, cream cheese, and cheddar? Or they are “saving room” for a big, sugary dessert?

But when you cut out the hyper-palatable foods, you normalize your taste receptors, or at least your psychological responses. And you are limiting your consumption of carbs in general.

So when you do eat broccoli, it becomes a wonderful treat. I always finish my vegetables. Broccoli. Brussel’s sprouts (which I used to hate). Cauliflower. Spinach. I love them all. They add a welcome bit of variety compared to meat / eggs / cheese all the time.

Some of that is also because I no longer avoid fats, so unlike plain steamed broccoli, broccoli with butter and some grated parmesan cheese acutally is more tasty.

I think it is a great benefit to eat in a way where food that is healthy for you actually tastes good. You achieve this state by cutting out the food that has been overly-enhanced, which allows your body to return to a more natural state.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

I really enjoy the taste of food, but I thought it was because of the butter or salt. The main sensory change I have noticed since going keto is that many things I used to consider too bitter to be edible are now quite tasty, and many sweet things that I used to love are either too sweet, or don’t taste nearly as delicious as I remember. (A useful discovery to use the next time a sugar craving hits, let me tell you!)

I haven’t particularly noticed an improvement in my sense of smell, but then, I wasn’t really paying attention, either. I’ll have to see if I can tell a difference, now.

Thanks for asking the question, @Arbre!

(Anne Brodie) #4

I’ve been keto for a year and a half now and am at maintenance. Over the past couple of months I’ve noticed a marked increase in my ability to detect smells, food or not. The paraffin smell in the aroma wax burner seems overwhelming. I smell many things I did not before in the same two areas I walk all the time. My car smells musty and I didn’t notice that before. Overall, smells of other people and places seem stronger. I’ve not heard others mention this before. I have wondered if it is my “smeller” that is more sensitive or if it is my brain that can process things so much better. Perhaps it can perceive things it missed in the past?

#5

Truth! I find myself craving broccoli now. I especially love it raw, dipped in guacamole. Nom Nom!

(Susan) #6

I find that I have no cravings for any of the high carb foods anymore, at all, but I crave things like salmon, or some broccoli, some cabbage, etc. I now get cravings for Keto whole foods, and I really enjoy them.

So, to answer your above question, for me it certainly is! Best wishes on your Keto Journey, you are doing really well so far, keep up the good work.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #7

When you cut sugar from your diet you begin to notice the natural sugars in vegetables and taste their subtlety more. :cowboy_hat_face:

(KCKO, KCFO đŸ„„) #8

I love veggies more than ever. Celery and sweet peppers are almost too sweet some days. I think the palate is cleaner with keto, so you get more of the flavors coming through.

(John) #9

Dinner yesterday was blackened catfish, broccoli in butter with parmesan cheese, and a side salad of lettuce and tomatoes with bacon and blue cheese dressing.

Tonight I had a slab of dry-rub ribs, coleslaw, and green beans for dinner.

It all tasted FABULOUS!

In both cases I had only had a small breakfast and nothing until dinner time. Nothing like being truly empty to make you appreciate good food.

(Troy) #10

Somewhat related 


THEN I liked salt on junk foods/SAD before
Never really enjoyed foods or the taste

And-to add
Very often CONDEMNED by others from all my added salt 
lol
" you salt way too much "
Upsetting some times😡

NOW
I still like Salt and the taste of foods even more!!

I salt foods all the time
I take a pinch of pink salt here and there
I add salt when I cook

And very often SMILE at others when consuming salt lol
Now I just enjoy😄