My favorite foods are sweet.
I know that humans’ first taste preference is for sweetness. It’s why breast milk is so sweet.
Most people, though, go on to develop preferences for additional flavors. I, though, am not very tolerant of foods that are sour or bitter. Strong flavors are often physically painful for me and I’ve learned that something that most people perceive as mild are often overwhelming for me. This is especially true for hot/spicy foods, like peppers. I also don’t drink coffee or tea, which are just too bitter for me.
I wonder if this taste preference for sweet and intolerance for sour and bitter is a natural defense. One of the conditions that I have is interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. (It’s probably also related to my hEDS and mast cell activation disorder, but I digress.) One of the ways to help reduce IC flares is to reduce acidic foods as much as possible. Most sour or bitter foods are also high in acid, so maybe my intolerance of those flavors is a self-defense mechanism.
By the way, salty foods are also bad for people with IC so I eat low-salt, as well. I don’t find salty foods physically painful, though, unless it is really, really, really salty, which feels like burning in my mouth.
I’m such a delicate flower!
And sweet! 😉
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this week is “sweet.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-16-2026/
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Joanne Corey 
What an interesting way to look at preferences! It makes perfect sense that your taste buds could be a natural defense. When I was cleaning up my diet (launched when I had to cut out gluten) a friend taught me that my body craved foods because it needed whatever nutrients were in it. I’d never in my life craved broccoli and that was her explanation. So cool!
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Laura, I’m glad that you were able to find a way of eating that is better for your body. So much dietary advice is generic without consideration that not all bodies are alike and need different things than others.
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My daughter-in-law and my good friend both have IC. For both it was difficult to diagnose and learn to manage. I am sorry you wrestle with it as well. I have noticed when I reduce or eliminate certain tastes from my diet, their flavor seems to intensify when I do have it again. So interesting.
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I’m sorry that your daughter-in-law and your friend are also dealing with IC. Delayed or misdiagnosis is, unfortunately, common. If they don’t know about it already, they might want to check out the advocacy group IC Network: https://www.icnetwork.org/interstitial-cystitis/
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Thank you, JoAnne. I will certainly pass this along. Thank you.
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You’re welcome. It can be difficult to find knowledgeable practitioners, practical help, and news about research, so organizations can help people find information and resources.
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I have to admit it is the first time I hear about interstitial cystitis. My wife and I do 23AndMe genetics test and I have genes for not liking certain vegetables such as asparagus, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, and it is true, I don’t like those. However, I don’t mind sour/tart, I like it, and I even like certain types of bitterness, but then I don’t have interstitial cystitis. It seems like everyone likes sweet, like you say.
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IC affects women more often than men and hasn’t gotten enough research money to fully understand it. Also, people tend to be reluctant to discuss bladder issues which keeps some people from even talking to a doctor to be properly diagnosed.
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Yes I can see how that would be a problem. Some conditions deserve more attention.
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Joanne,I enjoyed your piece about food— which is my number one vice. I have a sweet tooth myself— ice cream and M&Ms are my favorites, though I enjoy several other sweets. I am not a fan of bitter foods (aside from coffee and tea), and I put a boatload of sweetener into my coffee. I can deal with sour, and I like salty too much (namely, potato chips). However, I told a friend that I wouldn’t have potato chips for a long time. I’ve gone 2 weeks. My days of eating my favorite sweet and salty foods could be numbered, depending on what the practitioner tells me in July. I am age 65, so I will have to start watching it more. Bob Ruane
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Glad you are looking after yourself, Bob! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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“Such a delicate flower. And sweet.” ☺️
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LOL! Thanks, Ellen!
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