We all know that feeling of having a bad taste in our mouth, or the way a stuffy nose makes even the most fragrant garlic pizza taste like cardboard. But did you know that our sense of smell and taste naturally declines as we age?

Often the change is so gradual you barely notice it. That wouldn't be a problem, except that it can affect your health -- studies find people with impaired ability to smell and taste tend to follow less healthful diets. It also puts you in danger: Your sense of smell serves as an early warning system for things like rotten food and gas leaks.

Here's how to sustain smell and taste so that every bite (and sniff) tells you what you need to know:

http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/sharpen-your-sense-of-smell-and-taste/article16097.html