Umami Taste as a Component of Healthy Diets

Abstract

The effects of climate change on food production, together with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have challenged the true resilience of current global food systems, which has been further constrained with the escalation of global conflicts. As a result, people around the globe are living in a nutritional and health crisis. Providing sustainable, healthy, and nutritious foods to a growing population will require a shift to more plant-based diets that align more closely with national dietary guidelines. Although often minimized in dietary recommendations, taste is among the key determinants to consuming healthful diets. This chapter reviews how umami, through its taste and physiological functions, supports and has the potential to further enhance the acceptance of foods that align with human and planetary health.