The possibility of savoring different tastes is one of the pleasures of life. Sometimes, due to illness or aging, it is possible to lose the sense of taste and this makes it more difficult to enjoy meals. However, don't worry because in many situations this loss is temporary and reversible: by following a few simple tips you will quickly return to enjoying food.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Get a massage with castor oil to relieve sinusitis
To help relieve sinusitis and thus recover the sense of smell and taste, rub about 2.5 ml of castor oil on the face mixed with a drop of essential oil, such as eucalyptus, using moderate pressure. Start from the eye area by massaging along the eyebrows towards the ears, then down along both sides of the nose.
- Castor oil used locally can increase blood flow and help clear the sinuses.
- The sense of smell and taste are closely linked, the loss of one of these two senses can affect the other. For this reason, we tend to lose the sense of taste during a cold, flu or congestion caused by an allergy.
Step 2. Drink hot tea when you are sick
Boil some water in a saucepan or kettle and pour it into a teapot. Add some tea leaves or a bag of the herbal tea you prefer and leave to infuse for as long as necessary: depending on the type of tea you are using, it can vary from 3 to 5 minutes. Drink the still hot infusion.
- During a day you can drink as much tea as you like, but when you are sick try to consume at least one cup a day.
- Consuming a boiling infusion when you have a cold helps to reduce the mucus in the nasal cavities and thus to restore the sense of smell and taste. In addition, a hot and tasty drink can also stimulate the taste buds.
- There are several types of herbal teas to experiment with. Chamomile is an anti-inflammatory, while peppermint is an excellent antimicrobial for stimulating digestion. Both are indicated to combat ailments and improve cold symptoms.
Step 3. Add a little garlic to the water to fight the cold
Garlic is a natural antibiotic that helps fight disease. For a powerful remedy, add 1 or 2 finely chopped cloves of garlic to a glass of water and drink it immediately.
- Pregnant women should not take more than one clove of garlic per day for medical purposes.
- You can also add garlic to food, so that it helps stimulate the taste buds with its strong flavor.
Step 4. Do fumigations to clear congestion
Boil 250-500ml of water in a large saucepan, then remove it from the heat. Cover the pot with a lid for 5 minutes, then remove it and place your face directly over the pot. Cover your head with a tea towel to retain heat and direct the steam towards your face. Inhale the steam for as long as possible, possibly for a period of 15 minutes.
- If you wish, you can add two teaspoons of thyme, oregano and rosemary to the water.
- You can also try adding 120 ml of vinegar to the water to combat congestion.
Step 5. Rinse your mouth with oil to maintain good oral hygiene
Pour 5-10ml coconut, olive, or sesame oil into your mouth and rinse for 20 minutes. The oil will thicken as you turn it in your mouth and should be creamy white when you spit it out. When you are done with rinsing, spit the oil into the garbage can rather than the sink to avoid clogging it.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth.
- Rinsing the mouth with oil (also called "oil pulling") can counteract any harmful bacteria present in the oral cavity that can compromise the sense of taste, as well as eliminate the problem of bad breath. Do this once a day in the morning before you eat or drink anything.
Step 6. Consume cinnamon every day to improve your oral hygiene
It can be added to many foods and drinks. If you have a cold or the flu, pour half a teaspoon into a cup of tea with a little honey to sweeten the drink and drink it hot.
- Cinnamon has many health benefits, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It can help reduce swelling caused by colds or the flu that can alter the sense of taste, as well as prevent tooth decay and gum disease that can contribute to the problem.
- As with any other food, if consumed in excessive quantities, cinnamon can be harmful to health. Limit yourself to one or two teaspoons a day and you shouldn't have any problems unless you have a pre-existing medical condition. Always consult your doctor if you are unsure how to proceed.
Method 2 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Eat foods rich in zinc
Sometimes, the loss of smell and taste can be caused by a zinc deficiency. It is a very important element for the proper functioning of the body, but it is not stored for a long time in our body. It is therefore necessary a continuous supply of zinc by means of a correct diet.
- Foods such as oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, tahini, dark chocolate, crab, lobster, pork and beans are rich in this element.
- Sometimes it may be necessary to take a zinc supplement, but it is advisable to consult your doctor first. Consuming it in excessive quantities, i.e. more than 100-200 mg per day, can lead to a lowering of iron and copper levels, vomiting and gastrointestinal upset.
Step 2. Drink approximately 8 250ml glasses of water a day
Dry mouth can cause loss of the sense of taste and smell. Also, keeping hydrated is a great way to maintain overall good health and prevent any colds that can affect your sense of taste.
- If you are rarely thirsty and your urine is clear or pale yellow, it means that the intake of fluids is already sufficient.
- Some people may need more or less than 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. On average, women need about 2.7 liters per day and men 3.7 liters.
Step 3. Brush your teeth and floss regularly
Maintaining proper dental hygiene is important to prevent gingivitis: this is the first symptom of plaque accumulation on the gumline. The presence of an excessive amount of plaque on the gums, as well as any dental disease or deterioration, can alter the sense of taste, so keep your oral cavity healthy by flossing and brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste for at least 2 minutes 2 times per day.
Step 4. If you are a smoker, stop smoking
Experiment with different strategies until you find the one that's right for you, for example by trying to detoxify yourself with a nicotine replacement therapy, such as chewing gum or patches that gradually reduce their intake. Alternatively, get your doctor to prescribe medicines such as Champix or Zyban that reduce the urge to smoke and withdrawal symptoms by intervening in the brain.
- Smoking is not only bad for your health in general, it can also affect the taste of food. It is possible to regain the sense of taste as early as two days after quitting smoking.
- Although it will certainly be difficult, do not give up on the idea of not being able to quit smoking, as there are several ways to do it and it is possible to find the one that suits you. Some smokers succeed through hypnosis, acupuncture and meditation: techniques that can be useful for changing bad physical and mental habits related to smoking.
Step 5. As you age, add spices and flavors to your dishes
The sense of taste naturally fades over time. To compensate for this loss, you can add a little flavor to food with the help of spices and aromatic herbs such as basil, oregano, coriander and black pepper.
- If your diet allows it, add cheese, diced bacon, butter, olive oil, and roasted hazelnuts to the vegetables for added flavor.
- Avoid adding too much salt or sugar, as these are unhealthy foods.
- Avoid dishes like stews, which combine many ingredients and can mask individual flavors, dulling the taste.
- Make sure the spices aren't old, as they tend to lose their flavor over time.
Method 3 of 3: Using Medical Remedies
Step 1. Take anti-congestants or antihistamines to clear the nasal passages
If the loss of taste is caused by a cold, the flu or a seasonal allergy, you can try taking some over-the-counter medications to clear the nasal passages. They will help you recover your sense of smell and taste faster.
Decongestants are available in pills, liquid form and nasal sprays; some products contain pseudoephedrine, but a prescription is not required
Step 2. Get a prescription for antibiotics in case of a bacterial infection
Some disorders, such as bacterial sinusitis, infections of the mouth and salivary glands, can affect the sense of taste. Consult your doctor: After an accurate diagnosis, take antibiotics to treat your ailment and return to savoring food.
In the medical field, there is debate about the need to complete a course of antibiotics or stop when symptoms improve. Since no unanimous agreement has been reached, consult your doctor to find out how long you need to take your medication and whether to continue after symptoms have subsided
Step 3. Consult an otolaryngologist in case of a prolonged loss of taste
This doctor specializes in disorders related to the ears, nose, throat, mouth and larynx. If your loss of taste is attributable neither to a cold nor to advancing age, you should ask your treating physician to prescribe you a visit with this specialist who may be able to provide you with a diagnosis for your problem and help you. to cure him.
- The otolaryngologist will examine the ears, nose, throat and mouth, then perform a taste test to establish the minimum amount of flavor you are able to perceive. He may ask you to compare different chemical concentrations by sipping and then spitting them out, or some chemicals may be applied directly to the tongue.
- Some disorders such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis and Bell's palsy can lead to an alteration of the sense of taste, so it is important to get examined by a doctor if this problem persists.
Step 4. Change the type of medication you take if your doctor recommends it
Sometimes, the loss of the sense of taste is caused by medicines that are being taken for other ailments: for example, chemotherapy can cause an alteration of taste. Consult your doctor to see if it is possible to change the type of medicine or the dosage.
Step 5. Perform a cure for nasal polyps
Sometimes the loss of taste can be caused by polyps, soft, painless and non-cancerous growths inside the sinuses or nasal cavities. They can be cured by means of medicines and, in chronic cases, by resorting to surgery.
- Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to reduce polyps and inflammation.
- If medicines fail to reduce or eliminate nasal polyps, the doctor may proceed with endoscopic surgery. It is performed by inserting a tube with a camera inside the nostrils, using small surgical tools to remove polyps and widen the opening from the sinuses to the nasal cavities. This is an operation that is usually done without the need for hospitalization, with a prognosis of about 2 weeks.
