Upside of hating broccoli

IF YOU are sensitive to bitter tastes such as broccoli, you may have a lower risk of catching Covid, research suggests.

Scientists from the Baton Rouge General Medical Center in the U.S. analysed the taste genes of 1,935 adults, of whom 266 had the virus.

They found those sensitive to bitter tastes, due to having more bitter taste receptors, T2Rs, were less likely to be hospitalised by coronavirus.

One theory is those with a sensitivity to bitter tastes, socalled ‘supertasters’, may have enhanced protection due to the nitric oxide which can be triggered by T2Rs and reduces the chances of the spike protein attaching to cells.