Researchers uncover secrets of 'miracle fruit'

http://www.physorg.com ^ | 09-27-2011 | Staff

[Red Badger]

[WayneS]

"Miracle Fruit"?

I know Richard Simmons has been around a VERY long time, but I don't know that I would call him miraculous.

[Red Badger]

Haven’t seen his mug on TV for a while, he must have retired or something.........

[numberonepal]

It looks a lot like coffee cherries. I wonder if the plants are related?

[shield]

Interesting......

[SpaceBar]

They use this stuff in Japan and elsewhere as a non-nutritive sweetener, but seem to recall that the FDA has been reluctant to approve it for US use.

[Red Badger]

The FDA classified it as a ‘food additive’ and therefore it was under their control, to the great advantage of the sugar cartel...........

[Red Badger]

They do look similar......

[PGR88]

Beans, Beans, the magical fruit....

[Red Badger]

From WIKI:

An attempt was made in the 1970s to commercialize the ability of the fruit to turn non-sweet foods into sweet foods without a caloric penalty but ended in failure when the FDA classified the berry as a food additive.[7] There were controversial circumstances with accusations that the project was sabotaged and the research burgled by the sugar industry to prevent loss of business caused by a drop in the need for sugar.[13] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has always denied that pressure was put on it by the sugar industry but refused to release any files on the subject.[14] Similar arguments are noted for the FDA’s regulation on Stevia now labeled as a “dietary supplement” instead of a “sweetener”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synsepalum_dulcificum

[Red Badger]

We learned that rhyme as “musical fruit”........

[Kenny Bunk]

Synsepalum dulcificum

It's a member of the fig family. as in, "I don't give a damn, Ficum!"

[faucetman]

Synsepalum dulcificum berries? I can’t understand why people aren’t asking for them, by name, at their local grocery?

[Red Badger]

From Wiki:

Today it is being cultivated in Ghana, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, and south Florida.[4]

Shelf-life of the fresh fruit is only 2–3 days.[citation needed] Because miraculin is denatured by heating, for commercial use the pulp must be preserved without heating.[citation needed] Freeze-dried pulp is available in granules or in tablets, and has a shelf-life of 10 to 18 months.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synsepalum_dulcificum

[faucetman]

cran berry
rasp berry
straw berry
blue berry
goose bery
black berry
elder berry
hack berry
bay berry

Synsepalum dulcificum berry

[faucetman]

“researchers will next try to see if they can create it from scratch rather than having to rely on Mother Nature to grow it for them.’

Of course! ****ARTIFICIAL**** Synsepalum dulcificum!

[SpaceBar]

[Red Badger]

Synthesized Synsepalum dulcificum..........

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Mira berry?

[fso301]

My wife got one of those plants years ago. When we lived in South Louisiana, we kept it outside in a container under an oak tree most of the year. It doesn't like temperatures below about 35F and we would bring it inside.

We brought it with us to Rhode Island and it continues to do well although due to the much colder climate, it now spends much of it's time inside the basement bathed in the pink glow of a grow lamp.