The sensation derived when non-volatile chemical molecules stimulate receptors on taste cells in the surface areas of the tongue, soft palate, and the oropharyngeal region. The human taste system is now widely accepted to include five taste qualities: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami (Lowe et al., 2014).

The thalamus is thought of as the brain’s main relay center for sensory impulses.

The EAT-Lancet Commission consists of 37 world-leading scientists from 16 countries, representing various scientific disciplines. The Commission’s goal was to reach a scientific consensus by defining targets for healthy diets and sustainable food production.

The EAT-Lancet diet is a set of science-based dietary guidelines developed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. It emphasizes a plant-based diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, while limiting the intake of red meat, dairy, and processed foods. The diet aims to promote both human health and environmental sustainability.

The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating based on the traditional foods of countries around the Mediterranean Sea. It emphasizes plant-based foods, healthy fats, and overall eating patterns. A focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds characterizes the diet. Olive oil is the main source of fat, and fish and other seafood are also a key part of the diet. Foods are prepared with herbs and spices instead of sauces and gravies. Red wine is consumed in moderation, with meals, but not every day. Little or no red meat is consumed, and instead, poultry, fish, or beans are eaten. Little or no sweets, sugary drinks, or butter are included.

The MIND diet, or Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, is a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets that focus on brain health. The MIND diet includes foods that may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The Nordic diet is a healthy eating pattern that emphasizes locally sourced, seasonal foods primarily from Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, focusing on plant-based foods, whole grains, seafood, and moderate amounts of fish, eggs, and dairy, while limiting processed foods and red meat, similar in concept to the Mediterranean diet but with a greater emphasis on local, wild, and foraged ingredients like berries and fish from the region; often using canola oil instead of olive oil as a primary fat source.

The UK Biobank is a biomedical database and research resource that includes de-identified genetic, lifestyle, and health information from over 500,000 participants in the UK. It contains blood, urine, saliva samples, and detailed lifestyle information. Researchers from academic, commercial, government, and charitable organizations use the data to study health-related issues. Its data has enabled many scientific discoveries that improve human health and help researchers better understand diseases like dementia, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes.

Thermoregulation is the biological process by which an organism maintains its body temperature within a narrow, optimal range despite external temperature fluctuations. It balances heat production and loss mechanisms to stabilize the body’s core temperature.

The interindividual differences in the frequency and intensity of food cravings experienced by an individual (Richard et al., 2017).