If you’ve never heard of Miracle Fruit, you’re in for a treat!

Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is a berry that has some very fascinating medicinal properties. But it’s most known for how it effects your palate. You see, when you eat miracle fruit, it turns bitter and sour foods into delicious sweet delicacies. So after eating a miracle fruit, you can then eat a lime and it will be like eating a delicious key lime pie. Drink balsamic vinegar and it tastes like a fine wine. Eat ketchup and it tastes like custard.

…at least that’s what I’ve heard! I haven’t actually eaten miracle fruit yet. It’s been on my list of things to do for awhile. So I thought I’d do a little more research first and share with you what I’ve learned.

These little miracle fruit berries can add some sweetness back to your life!

The fruith contains a very interesting protein called miraculin which gives it the property of changing the sweetness and taste of other foods. Miraculin is now used as a commercial sugar substitute, especially in Asia. It’s much healthier than aminosweet, aspartame, sucralose and those other toxic artificial sweeteners too!

How Long Does Miracle Fruit Work?

The taste-changing effects of the berry last as long as the protein miraculin stays on your tongue. Researchers think that it somehow changes the shape of your taste receptors on your tongue, making your sweet taste buds react to acids and other compounds when they normally would not. This effect goes away when the proteins are washed off the tongue, usually in about one to two hours.

So don’t worry – if you try it, your taste buds won’t be changed forever. But you can certainly enjoy one fun meal in that hour or two!

Does Miracle Fruit Help Cancer Patients?

Many cancer patients have found miracle fruit to be very helpful in restoring their sense of taste and/or helping them cope with chemotherapy and radiation more effectively.

You see, most chemotherapy patients suffer from a vicious cycle of malnutrition caused by the chemo drugs. Patients lose their sense of taste so food tastes metallic (disgusting!) and bland, boring and often nauseating. This makes patients avoid eating, causing malnutrition, weight loss and starvation. Many cancer patients die from this malnutrition and the side effects of chemotherapy.

One cancer patient interviewed by CNN  said,

“We didn’t need it, but we thought it’s wonderful and told a lot of people,” said his wife, Terry Blechman. “If you can’t eat because everything tastes bitter, and one berry gives you back your taste for a meal, what is it worth? It’s worth everything.”

But the Blechman’s aren’t alone. A lot of cancer patients are now eating the berries in hopes of restoring their sense of taste and enjoying food once again. And anyone who’s dealt with a lot of cancer patients knows that one of the most important things for them (besides their nutrition ) is that they are happy, well cared for and have the support of loved ones around them.

Is Miracle Fruit Good For Diabetics?

Because of the miracle berries’ taste changing properties, it’s been used as a sweetener and sugar substitute which is great for diabetics. Many diabetics have found it makes a huge difference in their lifestyle and enjoyment. When they eat the berries, they can then eat a normal meal, or something like limes or lemons, and feel as if they’re satisfying their sweet tooth – without the loads of sugar that come from processed foods like cookies, crackers, pies, pastries and desserts.

Thanks to Miracle Fruit Hut for the inspiration for this article and their helpful information about the miracle fruit plant.