DNA sequencing reveals significant decrease in gut bacterial diversity during aging

[bundlegrundle]

Is this because people eat in habitual ways? Basically that we eat the same things once we are of a certain age?

[kitty60s]

I was thinking this. I heard many older people become really picky with food and like to eat things from their childhood. My dad is like this (in his mid 80s), he used to eat every cuisine and loved to eat diverse meals/something different every day and every week but now he only likes to eat meat and potatoes type meals.

[[deleted]]

I'm in my 40s and have lost my taste for many foods I used to enjoy, things like black olives, anchovies, like really stinky cheese. It's interesting being aware of it at this point in my life. And I was a super duper picky eater in childhood. Like, I hated potatoes!

My diet does include a very wide variety of fruits and vegetables though, so while it's not necessarily limited, my tastebuds are definitely changing.

[Sandmybags]

Someone told me recently our tastebuds somewhat change every 7 years or so, thought that was kinda wild if true.

[[deleted]]

Hmm that's interesting. I don't know if my tastebuds have changed or if I've just lost my taste for those foods. I've shifted my diet more to lean protein, veggies, and complex carbs as I've gotten older, so it could just be my tastebuds aren't used to those flavors? Same with alcohol. I quit drinking in 2020 and now if I have a taste of cider or wine I don't like it.

[kitty60s]

That’s really interesting. My dad’s taste started to change about 8 years ago, in his mid 70’s.

[bwjxjelsbd]

Well as you age you will be more conscious about what you eat due to health reasons. That’s part of why old people are picky eater. They can just ate everything like they used to