Is there a genetic reason for loving eating animal fats?

[Easipeelerie]

I adore butter, clotted cream and triple fat cheeses. My mum was the same (although she had a ‘let them eat marge’ attitude when we were children). She told me, as a teen, she’d take a packet of butter to bed and suck it for comfort. I wouldn’t go that far myself but I kind of get it. My uncle tells me her grandfather would relish eating all the fat from his pork chop. My version of that is that if anyone leaves their bacon fat, I’ll eat it.
Im just wondering, would there be a genetic reason for this e.g. our ancestors were half starved. I’m fascinated that I can trace the line to my great-grandfather.

Possibly.

I think Google is probably the best place to look before asking MN.

It's the most calorie dense food, some essential vitamins are also only fat soluble.

You never know, this might be one Mumsnetter’s specialism.

Yes there is. Humans are omnivores and we still have some canine teeth.

I’ve read somewhere that fats and sugars are really rewarding to our brains because of dopamine release etc - a quick google gives me this article but I’m not claiming it’s correct! https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/a46572387/why-fat-sugars-are-irresistible-study/

But no one person is never the authority on anything.

In every field of work there will be always be differing opinions and different studies

People need to look at them and appraise the evidence.

MN generally gives you a lot of completely uneducated opinions.

And people who haven't even read your OP. Like the poster talking about carnivores and teeth when you're talking about cream and cheese and not meat.

I'm the same as you. I don't think it's deeper than things just tasting nice and having a nice mouth-feel.

I'm open to it being genetic as I can't be bothered to look. But I wouldn't over-think it and certainly wouldn't ask MN and am a bit confused why it's a question and why you'd ask MN.

Our ancestors were hunter-gatherers. In terms of resource expenditure, meat, poultry and fish were the most cost-effective sources protein and fat, so the human brain evolved to desire these foods. Same goes for sugar, since it's calorie-dense, but with limited availability for much of history, principally in the form of seasonal fruit and honey.

probabky tricky to untangle if it’s genetic or if it’s how your family has traditionally been raised - if as a child you associate the data with love and happiness then the family love affair with those fats will continue

I think there’s some element of family tradition but it’s more than that. I’m the on,y person I know who will take bacon flat off people who don’t want it. Most people want to get rid of it.

One of my GMs really loved any meat fat - she preferred it to the lean, so I (who loathed it!) loved sitting next to her at the odd big family meal. ‘I’ll have your fat!’

She was never overweight and lived well into her 80s.

Where’s the fun in that?

Yes I'm the same OP, I have a fat tooth!

Funnily though, I’m not a fan of creamy drinks. The texture of Baileys is horrible to me. I love plain water and good gravy without cream.