The tongue’s appearance can provide important information about general health

One of my grandmother’s favourite things to cook was cold pressed ox tongue, though it’s a tradition that I don’t really feel the need to continue. Have you ever seen one? Not only is it colossal, but requires a lot of faff in scrubbing, cooking and pressing, as well as removing a thick layer of skin on top before you eat it.

I’ll pass, thanks.

Tongues, whether ox or human, are chiefly comprised of muscle – some of which control its shape and others its movement. They’re covered in specialised membranes containing many different small bumps – or papillae – linked to our tastebuds. These sense the tastes and textures of our food.

But the tongue does more than taste and help us to swallow what’s in our mouth – its appearance can also share important information about our general health.

Technicolour tongues

Tongues can turn a surprising range of colours.

Take red tongues for instance. A bright red, inflamed and swollen tongue is sometimes referred to as a strawberry tongue. The papillae become inflamed to look like the pips on the surface, and it can begin with a white coating, making it look like a slightly unripe strawberry. The coating then sheds, leaving the tongue appearing bright red.

It might sound like a cute name but a strawberry...

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