# Suggest foods for a person with a stuffed up nose **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749 "2007-01-12T20:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/1 "2007-01-12T20:54:24Z")
I know it’s a weird request, but: I’ve been steadily losing my sense of smell over the past few months because of sinus issues. (Doctor thinks it’s just allergies.) It makes certain foods (like pizza) very bland, while other foods don’t seem to be affected that much. I know that taste has a lot to do with smell, but it seems that different foods are affected to different degrees by my numb nose. Any suggestions for foods that are more about taste than smell? ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/2 "2007-01-12T21:10:00Z")
Toast with marmelade. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/3 "2007-01-12T21:45:31Z")
Hot and sour soup from a Chinese restaurant. Pretty much whatever ails ya, it’s good for it. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/4 "2007-01-12T21:49:49Z")
You should be able to taste sweet, bitter, salty, and sour even without smell. So, tart things and deserts. Plus salty nuts, chips, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/5 "2007-01-12T22:13:47Z")
My grandfather, who had no sense of smell, really liked rhubarb–chocolate didn’t do a whole lot for him. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/6 "2007-01-12T22:21:46Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Plus salty nuts, chips, etc. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I’ve been finding salty things irresistible. I seem to be able to taste cheese, and vegetables like broccoli. But herbs are almost undetectable. Garlic and onions I seem still able to taste, if I use them in enough quantity. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/7 "2007-01-12T22:26:10Z")
Raw chopped onions make a great featured garnish in brothy foods, from stews to pinto beans (cooked Southern style). You may be able to taste them if you put them on plentifully. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/8 "2007-01-12T22:36:54Z")
Sushi and sashimi with lots of wasabi? That might help to clear out your sinuses – at least temporarily. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/9 "2007-01-12T22:41:44Z")
Oh, and mustard. Anything vinegary. Maybe cooked greens slathered with white vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/10 "2007-01-12T23:19:19Z")
Pho (Vietnamese) or Tom Yum (Thai) soup. Ask for it extra spicy. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/11 "2007-01-13T00:06:43Z")
Or for Mexican instead of Asian get a nice spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/12 "2007-01-13T00:13:00Z")
[QUOTE=Bippy the Beardless] Or for Mexican instead of Asian get a nice spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup. [/QUOTE] I seem to be able to taste Mexican food more than Italian. I haven’t had Chinese food in a long time. I think I’ll have some this weekend. Sadly, things like sushi or Vietnamese or Thai foods aren’t really available here. I could buy sushi at the supermarket, but then a food snob will hyperventilate. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/13 "2007-01-13T00:15:31Z")
Oh, and I meant to mention that I haven’t tried wasabi, but horseradish hasn’t been effective in clearing this up. There’s a local restaurant where I order a grilled chicken sandwich and they serve it with a cup of the most deliciously pungent horseradish I’ve ever had. But we went last week and it barely even hurt. It was a sad moment, with no eye watering, or sobbing, or wincing. ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/14 "2007-01-13T00:16:52Z")
Mint, most kinds, and ginger. Lemon pepper. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/15 "2007-01-13T03:26:56Z")
Ginger is an idea. Mint is out of the question. As a child, I suffered The Mint-cident. So that’s one flavor that is never welcome back into my life. Lemon pepper fish sounds good. I think I’ll try that. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/16 "2007-01-13T03:59:15Z")
Go out and buy the spiciest beef jerky you can find. The spiciness, coupled with the chewing, will clear you up real quick. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/17 "2007-01-13T05:32:03Z")
A vicious-hot Thai curry ought to restore your sense of taste. Remember: if your forehead isn’t sweaty, it’s not hot enough. Works on my sinus/congestion issues, at least temporarily. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/18 "2007-01-13T06:53:58Z")
Is your goal to find foods that will alleviate your condition, or to find foods that will taste good despite your condition? Soups and spicy foods are both good for temporary relief of a stuffy nose. They cause the nasal passages to open, which helps you breathe and, presumably, to taste. On the other hand, if you just want to find foods that you can taste while you have a stuffy nose, the idea of seeking out flavors that register on the tongue (rather than in the nose) is a good one. **Liberal** already mentioned four “tongue” flavors: salty, sweet, sour and bitter. There’s also a “tongue” flavor that in Japanese is called “umami,” which roughly means “meaty.” Glutamates (including MSG) have this flavor. Meats and cheeses have the umami flavor. The spiciness associated with chile peppers is technically a pain reaction, not a flavor. Still, you can detect it your mouth even when your nose is stuffed up. So spicy food has a double advantage for you: you can taste it, and it tends to unstuff your nose. I assume the same would be true of black pepper, even though the chemicals that cause black pepper to taste “hot” are different from those that cause spiciness in chiles. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/19 "2007-01-13T16:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=Jeff Lichtman] Is your goal to find foods that will alleviate your condition, or to find foods that will taste good despite your condition? [/QUOTE] The latter. No food is going to fix whatever’s wrong with my sinuses. Thanks for the tips. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749/20 "2007-01-13T18:18:23Z")
My boyfriend has a very limited sense of smell. I dont know if its related but he doesn’t like coffee or tea. Loves rootbeer though. Savoury flavours. Gingerbread, spice cake made with lots of allspice, nutmeg, cardomom. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-foods-for-a-person-with-a-stuffed-up-nose/387749.md?page=2)