57 | id == 57
57 | category_id == 9
57 | category_order == 6
57 | category_name == Longevity
57 | category_color == #C47AC0
57 | slug == longevity-TAS2R16
57 | title == Is This Taste Perception Gene Linked With Lifespan? (TAS2R16)
57 | meta_description == A taste receptor gene called TAS2R16 may be associated with lifespan. How are they connected? Learn more here.
57 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>TAS2R16&nbsp;</em>&mdash;&nbsp;a bitter taste receptor gene&nbsp;&mdash; seems an unlikely subject of longevity research,&nbsp;but several studies have found an association between certain variants and lifespan. How are they connected? Learn more here.</strong></p>
57 | overall_score_text == Longevity Score (based on TAS2R16 Gene)
57 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/Bitter_Taste_post_image.jpg
57 | author_id == 1
57 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
57 | author_title == BSc, BEd
57 | author_order == 36
57 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
57 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
57 | reviewer_id == 2
57 | reviewer_name == Joe Cohen
57 | reviewer_title == BS
57 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
57 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
57 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
57 | publish_date == 2019
57 | publish_date == 10
57 | publish_date == 5
57 | avg_rating == 5.0
57 | tags_id == 180
57 | tags_name == Bitter Taste Sensitivity
57 | tags_id == 183
57 | tags_name == Diet
57 | tags_id == 101
57 | tags_name == Longevity
57 | tags_id == 182
57 | tags_name == TAS2R16 Gene
57 | tags_id == 181
57 | tags_name == Taste Perception
57 | permissions_favorite == False
57 | permissions_rate == False
57 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Are You Sensitive to Bitter Tastes?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is one of dozens of genes that may affect your perception of taste. More specifically, it can make a person more or less sensitive to bitter flavors and foods like </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/grapefruit/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">grapefruit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and wine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2597743/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://academic.oup.com/mbe/article/31/2/288/999088"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many bitter compounds can be harmful to our health if we consume them; some researchers believe that we evolved to recognize (and avoid) these substances through taste [</span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982205006779"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, many plants that are good for us also taste bitter. These include healthy vegetables like broccoli and beneficial plants like </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/dandelion/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dandelion</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Overly sensitive bitter taste receptors might have helped our ancestors avoid poison, but in the modern day, they may make us less likely to enjoy healthy foods [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413043/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5553762/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may also affect your perception and enjoyment of wine. According to one study, people with certain variants in this gene were more likely to perceive red wine as tasting sour [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569080"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].<br /></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Can Taste Perception Help Predict Lifespan?</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">At least three variants in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene have been associated with lifespan. However, there is currently no consensus about the mechanism by which </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> could affect lifespan.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some researchers have suggested that people with highly sensitive bitter taste receptors may not consume as many bitter foods &mdash; including healthy vegetables like broccoli [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413043/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5553762/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569080"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some people think broccoli and Brussels sprouts taste good, while others can&rsquo;t see past their bitter qualities. But avoiding vegetables may have consequences: people who regularly eat cruciferous vegetables live, on average, longer lives than those who don&rsquo;t [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cruciferous vegetables contain many essential nutrients and beneficial antioxidants like </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/quercetin-22-scientifically-proven-benefits-quercetin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">quercetin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, kaempferol, and </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/panacea-benefits-broccoli-sprouts-sulforaphane/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sulforaphane</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. According to several studies, these compounds help maintain the function of many organ systems and prevent age-related degenerative conditions like diabetes and heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5214562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157509000921"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30372361"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">By contrast, certain variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may improve the subjective taste of cruciferous vegetables and other bitter foods. People with these alleles may be naturally inclined to seek out and eat more of these foods and, thus, pursue a healthier diet [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People who avoid certain foods because they taste bitter could be missing out on essential nutrients and health-extending polyphenols like quercetin, kaempferol, and sulforaphane.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Sour Wine &amp; Lifespan</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One especially strange possible link between </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, taste, and longevity crops up at rs6466849. People with the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele here are both more likely to live longer and less likely to think red wine tastes sour (using vinegar as a point of comparison) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have previously linked moderate consumption of red wine to longevity. Red wine contains an abundance of antioxidants, including the popular </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-scientific-health-benefits-of-resveratrol-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">resveratrol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which may play a role in preventing metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6165230/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099584/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If people with the 'C' allele at rs6466849 perceive red wine as being less sour, they may be more likely to drink a moderate amount of red wine and gain the benefits thereof. However, this is a speculative connection from a single interesting study; further research will be required to determine the link between </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TAS2R16</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, red wine consumption, and longevity.<br /></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>TAS2R16</em> Results for Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*4924467233991103*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*8762252023357118*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Strategies to Increase Longevity</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Talk to your doctor before adopting any of the strategies below; they may have unexpected interactions with certain medications or other substances in your current regimen.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3605834748546781*</p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first &mdash; and possibly the most important &mdash; strategy to prevent any detrimental <em>TAS2R16</em> alleles from shortening your life is to eat healthy vegetables, even if they taste bad to you. Vegetable-rich diets are strongly linked to longer, healthier lives; they contain essential nutrients, beneficial polyphenols, and antioxidants that can improve your health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some of the beneficial vegetables (and other foods) you may enjoy less if you are sensitive to bitter tastes include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487725/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413043/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cabbage</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spinach</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lettuce</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/saffron/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saffron</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tea</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Red wine</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to several studies, the most effective way to increase your tolerance of bitter foods is to increase your exposure to them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6413043/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many creative recipes use spices and different cooking techniques to mask or transform unpleasant flavors. Try roasting those Brussels sprouts in garlic or spicing up your broccoli with chili flakes. Your health is worth it!</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you can&rsquo;t stand vegetables because they taste bitter, you might not consume as many beneficial polyphenols as someone who enjoys those same vegetables.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/panacea-benefits-broccoli-sprouts-sulforaphane/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sulforaphane</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a polyphenol found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. It hasn&rsquo;t been directly linked to increased lifespan, but several studies have produced promising results for increasing healthspan [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4432495/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4570035/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630296"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22052072"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23631497"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In various animal studies, sulforaphane has been tentatively linked to lower rates of cancer, improved antioxidant defense, lower </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, reduced blood pressure, and even lower rates of type 2 diabetes. If these results can be reproduced in human patients, they imply that sulforaphane may increase how long a person remains healthy during their life&mdash;that is, their healthspan [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4432495/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4570035/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15630296"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22052072"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23631497"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another polyphenol you may unintentionally avoid if you don&rsquo;t like bitter foods is </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-15-scientific-health-benefits-of-resveratrol-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">resveratrol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Abundant in red grapes and red wine, resveratrol may improve antioxidant defense and activate </span><a href="../article/longevity-sirt1-45"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SIRT1</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a well-studied gene associated with longevity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4161050/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21688389"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Note, however, that resveratrol is a controversial longevity supplement with insufficient evidence of directly increasing lifespan. Talk to your doctor before adding new supplements to your daily routine.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People who avoid vegetables may miss out on beneficial polyphenols like sulforaphane and resveratrol.</span></p> <h3><strong>Drugs</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some pharmaceutical compounds may be able to block TAS2R16. The best-known of these is <em>probenecid</em>, a gout medication which increases </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/uric-acid-correlated-iq-productivity-lifespan-likely-causal/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">uric acid</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> excretion in the urine. Note, however, that probenecid may increase </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/oxidative-stress-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">oxidative stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as uric acid has an antioxidant function. A handful of scientists have suggested that it could be used as an anti-bittering agent, but its potential benefits to people who are highly sensitive to bitter tastes are likely not worth the risks [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101243/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24858040"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Probenecid is a prescription-only drug with a specific medical purpose. Never take any new medications without consulting with your physician.</span></p>
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57 | content_learn_more_8762252023357118_text == Your TAS2R16 genotype is most common in people who live an average lifespan. You may be somewhat sensitive to bitter tastes, which may make you less likely to eat healthy vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Keep reading to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs6466849
rsStatus = rs6466849,,chr7,122993600,C,A,T,,34,0,Normal
