Convenience of Mberry

This research study aims to create a drink that will reduce the capsaicin in spicy
dishes named “Shots of Ecstasy'' that is made from “Mberry” a tablet made from the fruit of
Synsepalum dulcificum or known as “Miracle berry”, It is a taste-altering berry that causes
sour foods or other foods rich in diverse organic acids to be perceived as sweet and that will
give the consumers an enjoyment when consumed. Capsaicin can make your mouth and
tongue feel like it’s on fire, but it doesn't burn your flesh the way high temperatures do. When
you eat something spicy that contains capsaicin, pain sensors send a signal to your brain that
feels like a burning sensation. Capsaicin can cause your mouth and tongue to feel like they
are on fire, but it does not actually burn your skin like high temperatures do. Consuming
spicy foods with capsaicin triggers pain sensors to send a signal to your brain that mimics a
burning sensation (Manning, 2023). According to the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, Capsaicin is a pain signal or chemical irritants that are sent by the nerves that
can cause a similar response if it comes into contact with your skin, eyes or hands. It can trick
the brain into believing that an individual is truly consuming something hot, causing pain and
a desire to avoid eating it (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2022).

In the field of cooking, spice has been loved by many Filipinos, but some struggle
to become accustomed to them. According to Sheng (2022) Acidic foods can help to reduce
the heat because acidic foods like lemon or lime have low pHs, while capsaicin has a higher
pH, therefore the acid can help neutralize some of the capsaicin. Therefore, balancing it with
an acid can help neutralize the molecule's activity. This means drinking or eating something
acidic — such as lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item or drink —
may also help cool your mouth down. Additionally, Dairy and Milk products are considered
acidic (McCallum, 2020), but they are quick to spoil due to an overgrowth of bacteria that
compromises its quality (Hill, 2023). With this information, the researchers had come up with
an idea to minimize the sensation experienced by consumers when eating spicy food, that is
by using acidic fruits and other ingredients that are needed to make the Shots of Ecstasy
drink.

Dairy products are widely recognized as a popular choice for alleviating the sensation of
spiciness in the mouth.
References:
● Sung E. C., Garza J. (2021). Consumer Likings of Different Miracle Fruit Products on
Different Sour Foods. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7918680/#B2-
foods-10-00406

● Miracle Fruit/Miracle Berry: Health Benefits, Uses, Natural Sweetener and Side
Effects. (2021, September 22). Netmeds.
https://www.netmeds.com/health-library/post/miracle-fruit-miracle-berry-health-
benefits-uses-natural-sweetener-and-side-effects
● Richberry: Miracle Berry and Spicy Food. (2022, May 25). Richberry.
https://www.richberry.ph/post/richberry-miracle-berry-and-spicy-food

● Manning, J., (2023). Your Body on Spicy Food: The Good and Bad Ways It Affects
Your Health. EverydayHealth. https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/your-
body-on-spicy-food-the-good-and-bad-ways-it-affects-your-health/

● How Do You Measure the ‘Heat’ of a Pepper? | National Institute of Standards and
Technology. (2022).
https://www.nist.gov/how-do-you-measure-it/how-do-you-measure-heat-pepper

● Sheng E., (2023, July 28). The Science of Spice. SeedsofDiversity.

https://seeds.ca/schoolfoodgardens/the-science-of-spice/#:~:text=Acidic%20foods
%20can%20also%20help,neutralize%20some%20of%20the%20capsaicin.

● McCallum K., (2020, September 28). How to Cool Your Mouth Down After Eating
Spicy Food. HoustonMethodist.
https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/sep/how-to-cool-your-mouth-
down-after-eating-spicy-food/

● Hill A., RD, LD, (2023, July 5). What Is Spoiled Milk Good For, and Can You Drink
It? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/spoiled-milk