Book: "The Check List" by Manny Alvarez, M.D.

The taste bud issue was one of ten things that decline with age. No study was mentioned and different studies may yield different results.

To learn more, you might try searching: "Taste Perception with Age"

Do you have a study to support your idea that a supportive circle of friends contributes more to good health than eating a healthy diet?

I found his book and his website. I see he's trying to help people live healthier lives.

If your taste buds start to disappear I would think that different foods, healthier would be the direction to take.

I couldn't stand to even cut blue cheese in the deli i worked in as a kid. Now I will pick that one first. The same with broccoli, brussel sprouts and beets. Wouldn't you agree that stronger flavors would appeal to older people as their taste buds fade?

I think when we were little all the veggies came in a can for most of the year. I hated spinach or asparagus.

Mayo Clinic for one says a circle of friends is important to good health.
Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health - Mayo Clinic

And of course Bette Midler
[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWlQl69Ps6E[/ame]

I am trying to get funding for a study that will support the premise that some of my taste buds grew back from arguing with my friends on TOTV.

I feel bad for doin' that.

Mayo Clinic says that but I don't see any formal study to back it up.

You think they just make things up or start rumors. It's the Mayo Clinic, not TOTV!

Yes, I agree. An apple is better than a piece of apple pie.

That's a complicated question. To some degree yes but I think they usually look for stronger flavors in a way that they find appealing and many don't find bitter flavors appealing. Some vegetables are said to be slightly bitter.

I don't remember too many canned vegetables. Before my mother got married someone told her that her prospective husband would not eat anything out of a can. So I guess she tried to avoid it. But, eventually, we did have some canned items. :)

I grew up in New Mexico eating hot chili daily. In high school a buddy and I used to have Jalapeño eating contests. One would think my taste buds would be shot by now but I ended up living much of my adult life where the food was pretty bland. Today when I am in New Mexico I find I can not handle the hot chili anymore so I stick with mostly mild, medium at most.

Moreover at age 73 I am still quite picky about coffee and wine so I must have enough taste buds left to discern their quality and characteristics. I still thoroughly enjoy what I eat and drink.

Might it be a use them or lose them proposition?

Hold the Mayo. It's not good for you.

When I was little in NJ fresh veggies were seasonal and not imported from all over the world. Where were you raised?

On April 17, 2012, Buffett announced that he was diagnosed with stage 1 prostate cancer. There's never any guarantee that eating a better diet will prevent it but cruciferous vegetables are said to contain chemical compounds that protect against cancer. A healthy lifestyle in general is what's called for to improve one's risk of getting any degenerative disease.

We shouldn't count on genes to carry us through to a ripe old age. I've seen many elders in my family live to 106, 100, 97 and 89, but many of their children and grandchildren died at much younger ages.

I think you need to consider the context of advice coming from the Mayo Clinic or any other such clinic. People go to them for the treatment of some very serious diseases and having a circle of friends can be helpful in that context.

Remember, I wasn't the one who brought up the issue of "healthy diet" versus "happiness". Since when should it be one versus the other. Both have their place in a healthy lifestyle.