Chemotherapy can significantly affect the sense of taste. According to Fox News, many patients report that food tastes metallic, unpleasant, or has no taste at all.
This can make it difficult to eat enough, as appetite declines, potentially leading to weight loss and poor nutrition, which may affect the course of treatment.
Few solutions prove effective
Various strategies already exist to manage the problem. Some patients try changing the temperature of food or using plastic utensils. However, these methods do not always help.
According to Fox News, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes that evidence supporting the effectiveness of such solutions is limited.
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New hope
Researchers have therefore turned their attention to a small red fruit from West Africa known as Synsepalum dulcificum, more commonly referred to as the miracle fruit. It can temporarily make sour foods taste sweet.
In a small study cited by Fox News, about half of the patients reported an improved taste experience. Some also found it easier to eat and gained weight.
The effect is short-lived and does not work for everyone, highlighting the need for further research.
The fruit may make it easier to eat during chemotherapy, thereby improving both nutrition and quality of life.
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Sources: Fox News and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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