\n<\/aside>\nA small, red \u201cmiracle fruit\u201d is gaining attention for its ability to make lemons taste like lemonade \u2014 and for helping some\u00a0cancer patients\u00a0cope with an unpleasant side effect of treatment.<\/p>\n
For many chemotherapy patients, \u201cchemo mouth\u201d can make food taste metallic, bland, or spoiled \u2014 leading to weight loss, poor nutrition, and reduced motivation to eat.<\/p>\n
But a small red berry scientifically known as Synsepalum dulcificum \u2014 commonly called \u201cmiracle fruit\u201d \u2014 is drawing attention for helping patients\u00a0better tolerate food\u00a0and, in turn, reclaim a sense of normalcy.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of side effects from cancer treatments are underreported,\u201d Dr. Mike Cusnir, a board-certified medical oncologist and co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
He noted that taste changes can become more than a minor inconvenience over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe alteration in taste will end up giving the patient the sensation that everything is absolutely bland,\u201d Cusnir said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we may think that that\u2019s negligible, that it\u2019s not that important \u2014 but with time it becomes bothersome to the point where the patient doesn\u2019t eat, then there\u2019s\u00a0weight loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
The experience varies widely from person to person, but the impact can be significant. In some cases,\u00a0poor nutrition\u00a0and weight loss may complicate ongoing treatment, he added.<\/p>\nA small, red \u201cmiracle fruit\u201d is gaining attention for its ability to make lemons taste like lemonade \u2014 and for helping some\u00a0cancer patients\u00a0cope with an unpleasant side effect of treatment. weerapat1003 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn his research, he found that common workarounds such as using plastic utensils, adjusting food temperature, or adding spices offered little relief for chemo mouth.<\/p>\n
Cusnir remembers the first time he encountered miracle fruit \u2014 a West African berry that looks like a cranberry and contains miraculin, which temporarily alters taste perception.<\/p>\n
A patient brought it to his office and told him to try it with a lemon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018That\u2019s going to be tangy,’\u201d Cusnir recalled. \u201cHe\u2019s like, \u2018OK, try it.\u2019 So I tried it. It was tangy. Then he said, \u2018Now, try the fruit and then squeeze it again.\u2019 And it tasted like lemonade.\u201d<\/p>\nA small red berry scientifically known as Synsepalum dulcificum \u2014 commonly called \u201cmiracle fruit\u201d \u2014 is drawing attention for helping patients\u00a0better tolerate food\u00a0and, in turn, reclaim a sense of normalcy. Tatiana \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe effect typically lasts about 30 to 40 minutes, though researchers are still working to better understand how it works and why it affects people differently.<\/p>\n
In a small clinical study, Cusnir and his team compared patients using the fruit with those relying on standard, everyday ways of managing symptoms.<\/p>\n
About half of the patients who tried miracle fruit reported improvements in taste, along with better overall quality of life, and 14% gained weight.<\/p>\n
The fruit did not work for everyone, however, and the findings are considered preliminary.<\/p>\nFor many chemotherapy patients, \u201cchemo mouth\u201d can make food taste metallic, bland, or spoiled \u2014 leading to weight loss, poor nutrition, and reduced motivation to eat. we.bond.creations \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes that while\u00a0small studies\u00a0have suggested possible improvements in taste among chemotherapy patients, the evidence remains limited and inconsistent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More\u00a0rigorous research\u00a0is needed to determine how effective the fruit is and which patients are most likely to benefit, the experts say.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n The berry itself is delicate and often sold frozen or in tablet or powder form, as it can lose potency quickly after harvest. Availability has increased in recent years, though quality and effectiveness may vary between products.<\/p>\n
Cusnir said the fruit has not shown clear safety concerns in limited observations to date, and there is no strong evidence of harmful interactions with cancer treatments. Still, comprehensive safety data are lacking, so patients should consult their care team before trying new supplements or therapies.<\/p>\n
There has also been some interest in studying the fruit for people with diabetes, Cusnir said, as its taste-altering effect could make\u00a0lower-sugar foods\u00a0more palatable.<\/p>\n
For patients dealing with taste changes, even modest improvements may help with day-to-day routines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a meal becomes a challenge for the patient, and they just don\u2019t want to be there because they\u2019re bothered by the food, they may isolate,\u201d Cusnir said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That loss, he added, can compound the already difficult experience of cancer treatment.<\/p>\nThe berry itself is delicate and often sold frozen or in tablet or powder form, as it can lose potency quickly after harvest. George \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cPatients are tired, fatigued, and the time they spend with their family \u2014 if food is bothering them \u2014 it creates more isolation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Helping patients enjoy even\u00a0a small part of a meal\u00a0again can make a meaningful difference, Cusnir said.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients are with us maybe 15 minutes every few weeks,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they\u2019re at home, with their family, three meals a day.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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