Home remedies for loss of taste and smell
How does your food taste when your nose is blocked due to a common cold or any other reason? Somewhat bland right? Have you ever wondered why this happens?
The sense of smell is the last thing we pay attention to, but it has a significant role in how we relish our food or define the taste and smell of food and other fragrances.
The reason is that our sense of taste is partially dependent on our sense of smell. The sensory receptors in our nose and tongue work together to help our brain define the flavor of a particular food.
It is common for people to lose their sense of smell when they are in the throes of a severe respiratory infection. This has a negative bearing on how your food tastes as well.
Even though your taste buds are fully functional, the impaired sense of smell makes it difficult for you to taste the original flavor of the food. This hampering of the sense of smell is referred to as anosmia, which inadvertently makes your food taste bland until the condition clears. (1)
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Infections such as the common cold and influenza as well as sinus problems account for most cases of temporary loss of smell and taste. There are some other factors that can result in the onset of this problem, such as:
A permanent loss of taste and smell may be due to certain medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.
There are some tips and techniques that you can follow to help keep your sense of smell totally intact and to avoid certain mishaps that can result when you suffer from anosmia.
If you are prone to colds or flu and/or you have sinus problems, the following precautionary measures are a must:
Here are some home remedies to improve your senses of taste and smell.
Castor oil is an antioxidant known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help effectively clear up stuffed nose and restore the sense of taste and smell. This remedy lacks scientific explanation, however, it has a lot of anecdotal support for the users.
Do this twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed at night. Do this until your senses of taste and smell are restored.
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant that naturally occurs in the body and protects your body from cellular damage. It plays a vital role in maintaining cellular health.
Studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid may help restore your nerve function and assist both your senses of taste and smell. Consult your doctor before consuming the supplements of alpha lipoic acid. (3)
Including foods rich in alpha lipoic acid, such as broccoli, organ meat such as liver and heart, and spinach, in your diet is a great way to restore your ability to smell and taste.
Zinc is important to produce an enzyme called anhydrase, which is critical for taste and smell. This is why a deficiency of zinc in your body may significantly impair your senses of smell and taste.
Studies have shown that low levels of zinc may cause strands of your DNA to break, causing various types of cancer, infection, and autoimmune diseases. (4)(5)
Zinc boosts the productions of white blood cells in your body and helps fight infections effectively.
Consume foods rich in zinc such as meat, oysters, raw milk, raw cheese, kefir, beans, and yogurt. If you are planning on taking zinc supplements, consult your doctor for the proper dosages.
Inhaling steam is a great way of opening up your nasal congestion. The warm and moist vapor moistens the inner lining of your nose and reduces the inflammation. Such actions clear up space inside your nostrils, enabling you to breathe easily. (6)
A drop or two of eucalyptus essential oil will help you feel relieved faster. The eucalyptus oil is antibacterial and removes the problem-causing virus and toxins.
Your olfactory system, which is your sense of smell, works on a complex network of nerves.
A fragrance or an odor activates the nerve cells in your nostril, and the nerve cells send signals to the brain, which is why you can recognize the smell. Nerve damage can disrupt the olfaction centers of your brain and diminish your sense of smell.
Studies have shown the correlation between vitamin B deficiency and losing your senses of smell and taste. A severe deficiency of vitamin B can damage your nerve cells, paralyzing your senses of smell and taste. (7)
Eating foods rich in vitamin B, such as shellfish, milk, soy and rice beverages, and poultry, can improve your senses of smell and taste.
Consult your doctor for dosages if you wish to take vitamin B supplements.
The pungency of apple cider vinegar (ACV) makes it an effective natural ingredient for the restoration of your lost sense of smell. This liquid owes its strong sour taste to the acetic acid present in it.
It is this characteristic vinegary taste that tingles your taste buds and pervades through your olfactory senses to give your central nervous system a much-needed shake.
This stimulatory effect of apple cider vinegar was corroborated by a study published in Chemical Senses in 2014. The findings revealed that the smell of vinegar was strong enough to be picked up by the patients with anosmia, while the placebo engendered no response. (8)
Moreover, vinegar also exhibits antibacterial properties that can help you recover faster from nasal infections, which are often responsible for your loss of smell.
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