Is it possible to retune your tastebuds?

Some people harbour violent hatreds of certain foods, and our own tastes can change over time. But is it possible to force our tastes to change?

Brussels sprouts, Marmite, stinky cheese " these are all foods guaranteed to create divisions around the dinner table -and sometimes extreme reactions. A friend once ordered a baked camembert at dinner and I had to physically remove myself from the vicinity, such was its overpowering stench.

Yet foods that once turned my stomach - mushrooms and prawns, in particular - now make a regular appearance on my plate. How is it that my opinion of a juicy grilled mushroom has gone from yuk to yum after 30 years of steadfast objection? And why is it that certain foods leave some diners gagging theatrically while others tuck in with vigour?