I have a cold

[Bio_Girl015]

I have a cold and a stuffy nose. I can't taste my food. My question is how does a stuffed up nose affect our sense of taste? Why? If there is anything I can take to help please tell me. Thanks alot. *sniffles*

[priscy_needs_answers]

Chicken soup always helps my kids. As for why these things happen...I have no clue. I would also like to know why. Hope you feel better!

[kiekyon]

First make sure you get the meaning of TASTE, SMELL and FLAVOUR

TASTE
also called Gustation, the detection and identification by the sensory system of dissolved chemicals placed in contact with some part of an animal. Because the term taste is commonly associated with the familiar oral taste buds of vertebrates, many authorities prefer the term contact
chemoreception, which has a broader connotation.

SMELL
also called Olfaction, the detection and identification by sensory organs of airborne chemicals.

These two short articles make the difference quite clear taste is a sense for chemicals we have close contact with, like food, while smell is a sense for airborne chemicals,

FLAVOUR
also spelled Flavor, in sensory perception, attribute of a substance (apart
from its texture and temperature) that is produced by the senses of smell,
taste, and touch and is perceived within the mouth. These sensations help to identify substances and are sources of enjoyment when eating and drinking.

That means – taste, smell and touch (and in my experience also the color of the food) work together and your brain makes out of all these sensory inputs one unique impression.

[Bio_Girl015]

Thanks for the info everyone! I appreciate it a lot.Peace.