All About Miracle fruits
The mystifying Miracle fruit, scientifically known as
Synsepalum dulcificum, is an extraordinary berry native to West Africa. This incredible gem of nature sports a red exterior, while inside, houses a seed surrounded by sweet, tangy flesh. However, the true wonder of the Miracle fruit lays not in its personal taste, but its divine ability to alter your taste buds temporarily. After consuming a Miracle fruit, sour and bitter foods taste indisputably sweet – a remarkable party trick, but also extremely useful in various circumstances.
The Power to Transform Taste
The ‘miracle’ in Miracle fruit comes from a protein named miraculin found in its pulp. Although it doesn’t have a sweet taste by itself, this protein binds to the taste buds and tricks them into interpreting acidic flavors as sweet. For up to an hour after eating a Miracle fruit, you will find lemons taste like sweet lemonade, vinegar like apple juice, and goat cheese like cream cheese frosting. This ability has found useful applications, especially in helping cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy – a treatment that often leaves a metallic taste in the mouth. By transforming this taste into sweetness, Miracle fruit improves these patients’ appetite and nutrition during treatment.
The Health Benefits of Miracle Fruit
Aside from its unique taste-altering ability, Miracle fruit is laden with various health benefits. Firstly, for people keen on reducing their sugar intake, this fruit could be a lifesaver. It makes a healthy, natural sugar substitute, allowing individuals to indulge their sweet tooth without the guilt or health hazards associated with consuming high levels of refined sugar.
Moreover, Miracle fruit is a healthy dietary choice being packed with antioxidants – substances that fight harmful free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals are linked to a plethora of ailments, from aging skin to heart disease and cancer. By offering a rich source of antioxidants, the Miracle fruit helps protect the body from these conditions. Furthermore, these berries are a good source of Vitamin C, which plays crucial roles in our bodies, including helping in wound healing and boosting our immune system.
Lastly, some studies highlight the possible, yet surprising, anti-diabetic effects of Miracle fruit. These studies propose that compounds found in the fruit can help to regulate blood sugar and possibly enhance insulin sensitivity, making Miracle fruit potentially beneficial to people with diabetes.
Despite its name sounding like something from a fantasy novel, Miracle fruit is a real and remarkable fruit. Its unique ability to alter taste means we can reduce our refined sugar intake and make sour foods palatable, all while boosting our overall health with its antioxidant-rich properties. The scope for this fruit’s application in diet control, health improvement, and medical treatment could well deem it, the title of ‘miracle’.
