Miracle Fruit

The miracle fruit, or miracle berry plant (Synsepalum dulcificum) produces berries that, when eaten, cause sour foods (such as lemons and limes) subsequently consumed to taste sweet. It contains miraculin, a natural protein which binds sugar molecules to the tongue rather than allowing it to dissolve and disappear. When acidic substances enter the mouth, the sugar molecules press on the sweet spots of the tongue. This process could be used to help people with conditions ranging from diabetes to obesity. It can help to combat cravings for sweet and regulate excess consumption. And unlike sugar itself, synsepalum dulcificum berries have few calories. Unlike artificial sweeteners, the berries are all-natural. Fruit cultivators also report a small demand from cancer patients since the fruit allegedly counteracts a metallic taste in the mouth that may be one of the many side effects of chemotherapy.