The Hidden Psychology of Flavour: How Taste and Smell Impact Mental Wellbeing with Flavour Expert Craig

Discover the surprising connection between what you taste and how you feel. Join me for an eye-opening conversation with Craig Duckham, an expert from the flavour industry, about how our relationship with taste and smell profoundly impacts our psychological wellbeing - and how mindful eating can become a powerful wellness practice.

What You'll Experience:

• How losing taste and smell during COVID revealed their crucial role in mental health
• The science behind why certain flavours instantly transport us to childhood memories
• How mindful eating can become a form of meditation and stress relief
• Why comfort foods are actually emotional anchors that support our wellbeing
• The psychology behind our cravings for salt, sugar, and familiar flavours
• Practical ways to make healthier foods more appealing using herbs and spices

Episode Highlights:

• The profound impact of taste and smell loss on quality of life and mental health
• How flavour connects directly to memory and emotion through the olfactory bulb
• Why eating slowly and mindfully improves both digestion and psychological wellbeing
• The ritual and ceremony of food preparation as wellness practice
• How to "reset" your taste buds and appreciate natural flavours more deeply
• Making plant-based eating enjoyable through creative flavour combinations

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction - The surprising link between flavour and wellness 03:00 COVID's impact on taste/smell and mental health revelations 05:00 The complex science of how we experience flavour 07:00 Flavour shortcuts and psychological associations 10:00 Why we've lost the art of tasting our food 11:00 Mindful eating as meditation and stress relief 16:00 How different senses interact to influence flavour experience 20:00 Using herbs and spices to enhance healthy eating 22:00 The psychology of salt and sugar cravings 27:00 How cooking methods affect flavour and enjoyment 29:00 Resetting taste buds and appreciating natural flavours 33:00 Food rituals and ceremonies as wellness practices 36:00 Comfort food psychology and emotional anchoring 38:00 Ancient wisdom about chewing food properly

Perfect for anyone interested in mindful eating, the psychology of food, using flavour to make healthy choices more appealing, or discovering how our senses impact mental wellbeing. Craig's expertise reveals how something as simple as truly tasting your food can become a transformative wellness practice.

Remember: Small changes in how we approach food and flavour can create significant improvements in both physical and mental wellbeing.

Thanks for listening.