“Miracle Fruit”

Ever heard of a small fruit that alters your taste buds, making all sour things sweet? Synsepalum dulcificum, also known as the “Miracle Fruit” is a West African native berry that has been enjoying a recent refresh in American interest. Chewing the fruit, or letting one of the commercial tablets dissolve in your mouth, will turn anything bitter or sour you eat sweet for approximately ten minutes.

The little berry has been getting a lot of media attention lately due to recent success with cancer patients. After chemotherapy, patients taste buds are often dulled, giving all foods a very bland taste. After a while, patients have no desire to eat anymore, and can go through rapid weight loss. Dr. Mike Cusnir, a leading researcher at Mount Sinai Medical Center, says that the majority of his patients utilizing the berry have experienced improved taste buds.

Although many people have never heard of them, they are by no means new. In fact in the 70’s there was a failed attempt to commercialize them, with a lot of controversy. When submitted to the FDA, it was supposed to be labeled as a sweetener, because there was not a caloric penalty involved. Instead the FDA labeled it as a “dietary supplement”, pretty much destroying any chance of success it may have had. Many believe that the FDA was trying to protect the sugar industry at the time.

Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery: Not Just For Vanity

When we think of plastic surgery, we often think of things like face lifts, cheek implants, and other cosmetic procedures. However the truth of the matter is that many times, plastic surgery is actually performed to correct a genetic defect or for reconstructive purposes. Here are some examples:

Breast Reduction
Most of think that “bigger is better” but you may think differently if you were walking around with several pounds of extra weight on your chest. This condition has serious health consequences; it can inhibit normal physical activity and put extra strain on the back. This is why so many women decide to undergo reduction mammoplasty. Sometimes, medical insurance will even pay for the operation if the side effects have been documented thoroughly. If you feel you may be a candidate, consult a doctor and visit a breast reduction forum to learn more.

Abdominoplasty
Also known as a tummy tuck, this procedure involves the removal of excess skin from the abdominal region. Many women need to undergo this procedure after pregnancy or significant weight loss. Kate Gosselin had to undergo this procedure after giving birth to eight children. If the extra skin is not removed, it sometimes can lead to infections and hygiene problems.

Reconstructive Rhinoplasty
Surprisingly, a large portion of the population suffers from nasal abnormalities which impair breathing. The most common problem being what is known as a deviated septum (when the septum has shifted to one side of the nose). Not only does this obstruct the airway, but it can often make sleeping difficult due decreased oxygen intake. Another common problem are collapsed alar valves (the nostrils) which can weaken and cave in. To find out more about these conditions, speak to a plastic surgeon whom specializes in this. An online rhinoplasty forum or message board can be a good place to find nose job specialists.

Scar Revision
It’s normal to develop little scars here and there, but if you are an accident victim, you may be left with massive areas of scar tissue on your face or body. Not only are these unsightly, but the hardened scar tissue can even impair the muscle movement underneath. There are also genetic conditions – like keloids – which lead to problematic scar tissue. Whatever the cause may be, plastic surgery may be needed to help reconstruct the abnormal skin.