What Conditioned Taste

Conditioned taste aversion is a conditioned response in which a person avoids a food or drink after associating it with a negative experience, such as nausea or vomiting. This response can be triggered by a single negative experience, or it can develop over time after multiple negative experiences.

Conditioned taste aversion is thought to be an evolutionary mechanism that helps us avoid harmful foods. When we associate a food with a negative experience, our body produces a conditioned taste aversion to that food, which helps us to avoid it in the future.

Conditioned taste aversion can be a problem when it interferes with our ability to eat a healthy diet. For example, some people develop a conditioned taste aversion to certain foods after they have received chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. This can make it difficult for them to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

There are a number of things that can be done to treat conditioned taste aversion, including:

* Gradual exposure: Gradually introducing the feared food back into the diet, starting with small amounts and gradually increasing the amount over time.

* Counter-conditioning: Pairing the feared food with a positive experience, such as eating it with a favourite food or in a pleasant setting.

* Cognitive-behavioural therapy: Helping the person to change their negative thoughts and beliefs about the feared food.

* Pharmacological therapy: Using medication to reduce the nausea and vomiting associated with the conditioned taste aversion.

If you are struggling with a conditioned taste aversion, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you develop a plan to overcome your aversion and get back to eating a healthy diet.