Have you tried eating Cilantro but it tastes like soap? How many times did you experience sipping an orange juice that tasted terrible because you’ve just brushed your teeth? Medical News Today, intrigued by these strange feelings, enlisted the help of nutritionists and dieticians to explain the science underlying these issues. Dr. Jerry Bailey (Certified nutritionist and acupuncturist at Lakeside Holistic Health) and Stephanie Klein (Registered dietitian, and clinical director of diabetes prevention and reversal at Simplex Health) were interviewed to further elaborate on this situation.
Cilantro, commonly known as Coriander or Chinese parsley, is a bitter and contentious leafy green vegetable and herb. The seeds are used in many Indian and Mexican dishes, however, for everyone who loves this herb, there are also others who despise it. It appears that the dislike derives from the compounds found in Cilantro, as well as a genetic variance in olfactory receptor genes that certain people have. Cilantro smells harsh and leaves a soapy taste on the tongue, according to these people. This is in contrast to the intense citrus tones tasted by others.
According to Dr. Bailey, OR6A2, the genetic variation, could be the olfactory receptor gene involved in detecting soapy odors. As a result, Dr. Bailey speculates that it could be the reason why there is a soapy flavor on Cilantro leaves. Dr. Bailey further explained that the soapy flavor could be the scent and flavor ingredient S-linalool, which is a key component of the oil found in this herb. Some genetic testing websites now even allow consumers to find out if they are genetically predisposed to detest Cilantro.
On the other hand, you may get a strange but common sensation in your mouth that is fuzzy, chalky, or gritty after eating raw or cooked spinach. Vegetables, like spinach, are rich in oxalic acid, which causes this harmless side effect. Accordingly, the calcium from the spinach mixes with oxalic acid and other food in the mouth when we eat spinach. Calcium oxalate is formed as a result of the reaction between these two compounds. These small crystals floating around in the mouth, give a gritty, sticky sensation to the teeth. To easily get rid of calcium oxalate, you can steam, boil or incorporate spinach with a squeezed lemon. In the latter case, the ascorbic acid from its juice, or vitamin C aids in the oxalic acid's dissolution. To easily get rid of calcium oxalate, you can steam, boil or incorporate spinach with a squeezed lemon. So, what are you waiting for? Just take a bite and experience its health benefits.
PNFP Marie-Claire Gaas
References:
1. Spinach teeth, soapy cilantro: The science behind weird food phenomena
Written by Yasemin Nicola Sakay on December 23, 2021 — Fact checked by Alexandra Sanfins, Ph.D.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/spinach-teeth-soapy-cilantro-coriander-the-science-behind-weird-food-phenomenahttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/spinach-teeth-soapy-cilantro-coriander-the-science-behind-weird-food-phenomena
2. Soapy Taste in Mouth: What’s Causing It?
Medically reviewed by Justin Choi, M.D. — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on March 30, 2017
