Research has shown that pleasure affects nutrient absorption. In a 1970s study of Swedish and Thai women, it was found that when the Thai women were eating their own (preferred) cuisine, they absorbed about 50% more iron from the meal than they did from eating the unfamiliar Swedish food. And the same was true in the reverse for the Swedish women. When both groups were split internally and one group given a paste made from the exact same meal and the other was given the meal itself, those eating the paste absorbed 70% less iron than those eating the food in its normal state.
Pleasure affects our metabolic pathways; itâs a facet of the complex gut-brain connection. If youâre eating foods you donât like because you think itâs healthy, itâs not actually doing your body much good (itâs also unsustainable, weâre pleasure-seeking creatures). Eat food you enjoy, itâs a win-win.
what
no seriously
what?
PLEASURE IS A NECESSARY PART OF HUMAN HEALTH, BOTH PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PHYSICALLY
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RATING: RELIABLE
The study referenced in the New York Times article I believe is this 1977 study. The information given is accurate, although some limitations should be noted: the study only measured iron absorption, in a specific demographic. Furthermore, whilst absorption may be linked to pleasure, it is limited by the actual nutritional content of the food.
