WATCH: Dr Karl Lays Down The Science Behind Your Hatred For Broccoli

Ever wondered why even the mere thought of broccoli gives you the bum tingles and makes your stomach turn?
I’ve wondered. And evidently, so has a triple j listener, who called up Zan Rowe and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki to ask: “When people eat the same foods, why do some people like [some food] and some people don’t?” 

Clumsily-worded question aside, the answer’s pretty innerestang. It’s partially genetic, partially environmental:
As he describes, certain people are considered ‘super tasters’ – which means they’re especially sensitive to bitter foods. It’s an evolutionary advantage, since bitterness is often a sign of poison in the environment. 
But this also has its disadvantages, so stop thinking you’re more evolved than the rest of us, you butthole. According to Karlos, not eating broccoli means “you miss out in the anti-cancer long-term properties of broccoli.”

The second part of your intense broccoli-hating complex is conditioning, namely taste aversion. 
“So I have some friends who love champagne, they went to a Christmas party, they were some bad prawns, they vomited,” says Dr K. “And now as a result, they can’t have champagne.”
It’s also got to do with what you were fed as a bebbie.
If you were breast fed, what you like and don’t like could have a great deal to do with what grub your momma munched on while she fed you. If she had a variety of foodstuffs while you were on her teet, you’re probably culinarily adventurous in adult life. Whereas if you drank formula as an infant, you’re less likely to branch out when it comes to eating.
There you go!
Hey but Karl, next week, can you please explain why the intro illustration to your weekly segment is so damn terrifying?
help

Source: triple j.

Photo: triple j / Science Photo Library / pedestrian.tv.

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