Food texture perception and circadian rhythms: Implications for product development

The texture of food is a crucial sensory attribute that significantly impacts our eating experience and satisfaction. Recent research has uncovered intriguing connections between food texture perception and circadian rhythms, offering valuable insights for food scientists and product developers. Let’s explore how the time of day influences texture preferences and oral processing behaviours, with potential applications for optimising food products.

Circadian variations in texture perception

Studies have shown that texture perception and preferences can vary throughout the day due to circadian rhythms. These variations may be linked to diurnal changes in salivary flow rates and composition, which affect oral lubrication and texture perception.

Morning - preferences for crunchier, crispier textures

• Sensory sensitivity: In the morning, sensory sensitivity is generally heightened. This increased sensitivity can make individuals more perceptive to subtle textural differences in foods.
• Digestive readiness: After a night's rest, the digestive system is more prepared to handle different textures, especially those that require more mastication, such as crunchy cereals or fibrous fruits.

Evening - increased preferences for softer, smoother textures

• Fatigue effect: As the day progresses, sensory acuity can diminish due to fatigue. This can lead to a decreased ability to detect fine textural differences, making softer foods more appealing.
• Preference for comfort: In the evening, people often prefer comfort foods that are easy to eat and soothing, such as creamy soups, mashed potatoes, or yogurts

Factors influencing texture perception by time of day

• Circadian rhythms: The body's circadian rhythms regulate various physiological processes, including sensory perception. These rhythms can cause fluctuations in how we perceive texture at different times of the day.
• Hormonal changes: Hormonal levels, such as cortisol and melatonin, vary throughout the day and can affect sensory sensitivity. Higher cortisol levels in the morning might enhance texture perception, while elevated melatonin in the evening could dull it.
• Psychological state: Mood and stress levels also play a role. Morning alertness versus evening relaxation can change how textures are perceived and enjoyed.

Impact on oral processing behaviours

Time of day has been found to influence oral processing behaviours, which in turn affect texture perception and satiety responses:

• Chewing patterns and eating rates tend to be faster in the morning
• Slower, more thorough oral processing is often observed in the evening

These differences can impact the breakdown of food structures and the release of flavor compounds, potentially altering the overall sensory experience.

Implications for product development

Understanding these temporal variations in texture perception offers opportunities for food developers:

• Time-specific product formulations: Understanding how texture perception varies can help food manufacturers tailor products for different times of the day. For instance, developing breakfast foods with a variety of textures to engage heightened morning senses, and evening snacks that are softer and more comforting.
• Packaging and marketing strategies: Marketing can emphasize the textural qualities of foods that align with the time of day they are intended to be consumed.
• Portion size and satiety considerations: Adjusting product textures to promote satiety at different times of day
• Personalised nutrition approaches: Developing texture-modified products for specific chronotypes or shift workers

Future research directions

By considering the interplay between food texture and circadian rhythms, food scientists and developers can create more targeted, satisfying products that align with consumers' changing sensory needs throughout the day. For food scientists and developers, understanding and manipulating texture can be the key to creating innovative, appealing products that resonate with consumers. That’s where the Texture Analyser provides the ability to measure, compare and control textures that are created and then later manufactured.

Stable Micro Systems' range of texture analysers

Why not request demonstration or chat to discuss how a Texture Analyser can be applied to your product development.

These are excellent articles that have been used to summarise this article:

Reciprocal Interactions between Circadian Clocks, Food Intake, and Energy Metabolism

Food as circadian time cue for appetitive behavior

Circadian Rhythm, Mood, and Temporal Patterns of Eating Chocolate

The role of the circadian clock system in nutrition and metabolism

For further reading and detailed studies on food texture perception, consider exploring resources such as:

Journal of Texture Studies

Journal of Sensory Studies

Food Quality and Preference

There is a Texture Analysis test for virtually any physical property. Contact Stable Micro Systems today to learn more about our full range of solutions.

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For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.

The TA.XTplusC texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.

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