Specific Appetite in Humans
There is very little strong evidence for specific appetite in humans. However, it has been demonstrated that humans have the ability to taste calcium, and indirect evidence supports the idea that patients on kidney dialysis who develop hypocalcemia prefer cheese with greater amounts of calcium added. Exercise also increases the preference for salt. Addison’s disease is known to induce a specific craving for sodium, although other diseases causing hyponatremia may not induce the same response. Extreme sodium depletion in human volunteers has been demonstrated to increase the desire for high-salt foods.
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—Marianne E. Neifert (20th century)
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Methinks at meals some odd thoughts might intrude,
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About the right divine how far we should
Sell flesh and blood.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“The land is the host and humans merely guests.”
—Chinese proverb.