Hate coriander and celery? It's really not your fault

In Taiwan, whether it's small shops on the streets or food stalls at bustling night markets, vendors of all kinds of delicacies, such as meatballs, pig's blood cakes, meat soup, fish ball soup, and stinky tofu, almost always add a handful of cilantro. Sometimes, celery is even added to the broth beforehand. HEHO Jun has always been puzzled by this: why do vendors add these two condiments to staples? While HEHO Jun doesn't object to them, these two vegetable ingredients are something many people avoid. Therefore, at shops and stalls, I often hear customers asking the owner, "No cilantro (celery)."

Most people have favorite foods, but there are also inevitably some ingredients they dislike. For example, HEHO is quite repulsive to the delicious pork knuckles and Dongpo pork that many people get off their cars at. Regarding dietary taboos, some people avoid pork and beef due to religious beliefs, while others, due to allergies, list foods like milk, eggs, and seafood as "no-nos" and avoid them easily.

Interestingly, in Taiwan, people who dislike cilantro, celery, and even carrots are not uncommon. According to unofficial statistics, the percentage of people who dislike cilantro varies widely around the world: 17% of people in Europe avoid cilantro, 21% in East Asia, and 14% in Africa. In other words, in Taiwan, one in five people avoid cilantro.

From a nutritional perspective, both cilantro and celery are rich in potassium ions, which are beneficial to human health. Cilantro, also known as coriander, is a temperate plant native to Europe and belongs to the Apiaceae family. It promotes perspiration, improves blood circulation, aids detoxification, and regulates gastrointestinal function. Potassium ions are crucial for the kidneys to eliminate harmful substances from the body. Therefore, in addition to ensuring adequate water intake, adequate potassium intake is essential to better functioning of the kidneys' cleansing function. Every 100 grams of cilantro contains 390 mg of potassium ions, demonstrating that consuming cilantro can indeed help protect the kidneys.

As for celery, it is often used as a cooking seasoning.Rich in calciumCelery is rich in potassium and can help lower blood pressure, protect cardiovascular health and strengthen bones. Children and adolescents in their growth and development period, as well as pregnant and lactating women, can effectively supplement the body's needs by eating more celery.Calcium and IronIn addition, the unique ingredient apigenin in celery also has the benefit of reducing the body's inflammatory response.

Many people may not know that aversion to cilantro and celery isn't due to a particular food preference, but rather to their distinctive smell. Another factor, beyond our control, lies in our genes. American geneticist Nicholas Eriksson conducted a study of 14604 cilantro-averse individuals and 11851 cilantro-lovers. Through statistical analysis, he concluded that those who dislike cilantro and celery have a gene called OR6A2. This suggests that aversion to cilantro and celery is closely linked to our genes.

In fact, in addition to coriander and celery, some people's resistance to broccoli, mustard greens, carrots or tomatoes is not only due to the unique smell of these vegetables themselves, but also may be due to genetic factors that cause them to reject these nutritious ingredients.

It's worth noting that numerous international studies have confirmed the link between dietary preferences and genetics. For example, a research team at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, discovered through testing that certain genes in the human body can blunt a person's response to sweet foods like milkshakes, potentially leading to overconsumption. A team at the Wellcome Trust Institute for Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge, UK, also found that people with a mutation in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MCR4) gene appear to have a greater preference for greasy foods and are more likely to consume high-fat ingredients than others.