Miracle fruit, a fruit native to West Africa, contains miracolin used as a sugar substitute for diabetics . Let's find out better.

Description of the fruit

Miracle fruit, or miracleberry ( Synsepalum dulcificum ), has been known by Westerners since the mid-1700s, although local people in West Africa have always consumed their berries knowing their effects.

By eating the pulp, a substance called miracolin acts on the taste receptors, turning the taste of any food eaten following its consumption within an hour into a sweet one, no matter how bitter or sour it may be.

Miracle fruit, ally of

Who approaches slimming diets, those suffering from diabetes, those who face chemotherapy.

Nutritional composition and properties of the miracle fruit

Miracolin is a glycoprotein, isolated in Japan in the 1960s and used as a sugar substitute for diabetics, for patients who are forced to take therapies involving bitter medicine, and finally to cancel one of the undesirable effects of chemotherapy as a metallic taste that remains in the mouth after the treatments.

As also happened to other natural sweeteners such as stevia, curculina, gymnema or the serum-berry taumatina, it was opposed by the various food control organizations of different nations because of their potential impact on the sweetener market.

Contraindications of miracle fruit

There is only one possible contraindication known: in the case in which under the effect of the miracolin it is indiscriminately eaten exaggerated quantities of foods of which normally it is not abused because of the taste, for example the more acid citrus fruit and rich aromatic oils, they will incorrere him in the side effects due to the abuse of the food eaten.

This has happened in most cases with lemons, which after eating the miracle fruit completely lose their acid taste (but not the acidity), inviting the experimenter to eat them as if they were simple apples.

Curiosity

Excessive heat or a food with a particularly alkaline pH neutralize the effects of miracoline.

In ancient times, the natives ate their berries before eating some bread made with acidic cereals, or before drinking acidic beverages such as certain palm wines or some millet and sorghum beers.

How to eat miracle fruit

It is sold online, in dehydrated bars or, more rarely, in frozen pulp. The fresh fruit is not marketed.