It’s easy to get fooled by the appearance of food, but we really don’t want to eat tainted food. The truth is that we’re born programmed to avoid food that has been tainted, whether it’s by accident or intentional. This may seem like a contradiction but birds are highly selective about what they eat, whether it be ripe fruit, fish, or meat.
Some species of birds, such as the raven, have been known to develop a severe aversion to tainted food. While it is not entirely clear what causes the aversion in these species, research suggests that the birds are biologically predisposed to develop aversions to the taste of spoiled or tainted food.
In a study entitled Fasting: Why Does It Work, scientists report that individuals who fast lose weight more easily than those who don’t fast. According to study leader Professor Gary Taubes, these observations suggest that a physiological factor, rather than an imposed diet, accounts for the observed benefits. “It indicates that the biological response to fasting involves a biochemical alteration of the endocrine system,” says Taubes.
Birds are not as well-known for their aversion to the taste or smell of food as we tend to think, but there are very real reasons that they don’t enjoy food that is spoiled. Now, scientists from New York University are finding out why. They’ve set out to change that, by studying the birds that are most closely associated with them. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests that birds with a genetic mutation have a heightened sense of smell.
Humans have a natural aversions to tainted food, and many cultures avoid it due to disgust. However, even though we’re genetically predisposed to hate tainted food, there are many other reasons why some people might avoid the product. Some types of tainted food might cause vomiting, diarrhea, or nausea. The toxins in some foods can be toxic to the nervous system. Certain foods might also cause nausea, which some people might feel the effects of for up to a week.
It’s possible that this may be the reason why some birds avoid foods that contain traces of pesticides, the same way we do. But how did birds acquire this aversion to tainted food?. Birds are social animals who can be great friends with one another so why do some birds develop negative reactions to tainted food?.
This new study suggests that birds may have evolved a “disinhibition-avoidance bias” towards the ________ of tainted food. The researchers hypothesized that birds may develop a negative bias to the ________ of tainted food because of the social interactions they have with other birds.
Birds can be very sensitive to any food that goes straight into their mouths or into their digestive systems. Their instinctive aversion to tainted food could explain why they have evolved an aversion to raw meat.
It’s hard to believe, but the number of species of birds that actually hate their surroundings is increasing every year. This trend is referred to as an “avian allergy” and is a significant concern in the bird world. Unfortunately, when a bird picks up a piece of contaminated food, which is likely to have been fed to a bird that was trying to feed its young, it can experience an allergic reaction.
