"Miracle" Berries

Yesterday, Section D of the Orlando Sentinel had a pretty interesting article about a diet. A miracle diet.

As it happens, there is a berry which, when eaten, has the capacity to alter the way we perceive certain tastes, specifically, bitter and sour (acidic foods). What does the bitter/sour flavor change to? Sweetness. The process is simple, eat a Synsepalum dulcificum (or more commonly, miracle berry), and eat something bitter or sour within about 30 minutes. The berries are native to Africa, or you can purchase them as a tablet for about $1-2 apiece.

The logic behind the supposed diet miracle here is that by drinking lemon juice which is suddenly as sweet as lemonade without all the sugar, you will be able meet that sweet-tooth craving without the excess sugar and calories. Weight loss ensues. People rejoice. Right?

Not so fast. Remember, this the same logic that has been touted for years with artificial sweeteners. Get that sweet taste without the sugar and calories. The article mentions a University of Florida researcher who has been looking at the miracle berry since the 1970s. Her research indicates that tricking the mind into think it is getting a sugary treat without actually ingesting the calories can be harmful to the metabolism.

As it turns out, the body has an amazing capacity to adjust to what you eat to help you maintain your weight. One of these mechanisms recognizes "sweetness" and responds by ramping up the body's metabolism to help disperse the calories appropriately. By getting that sweet sensation without the calories, your body stops associating sweetness with calories. The result? Loss of satiation and satiety (fullness and satisfaction following a meal) which can lead to increased hunger. Additionally, eating the berries doesn't contribute to that fullness, and doesn't change the overall palatability of a food, which is linked with fat content.

So what's the take home? It's an interesting concept, and a great party trick. But remember, if it's a miracle, it's probably also a gimmick. Stick with what we know works -- balanced meals, wholesome foods, and all things in moderation.

The original article can be viewed here:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/sc-health-0313-miracle-berry-20130313,0,672596.story

-- Les, MS RD