Miracle fruit breakthrough
CANCER COUNCIL QLD HELPLINE
It all started on a property in the Daintree. Chris Beckwith and Karen Pereira started growing what’s commonly known as Miracle Fruit although there’s nothing common about this fruit at all.
For many years they’ve been advocating Miracle Fruit for those with taste issues, because of their cancer treatments. Many cancer patients on chemotherapy lose their taste buds and are left with what they describe as a metallic taste. This reporter has heard firsthand that taste returns for many patients after using Miracle Fruit. Chris and Karen were telling anyone who would listen that they were onto something truly remarkable.
Newsport and local radio were among the first to publicise their work in this area followed by the ABC’s Landline series, the Medicine or Myth series on SBS, world-renowned neurosurgeon Charles Teo was keen and even TV’s Gogglebox discussed the fruit in between laughs.
But no one is laughing now. Chris and Karen now have the ear of the Cancer Council of Queensland which is the credibility the fruit deserves “Karen and I are over the moon with the news, at long last Cancer Council Queensland have recognised this taste modifying fruit” Chris said. Their business Rubyberry, sells the berries in freeze dried cube formation, which makes it easy to take.
They are sold across Australia in pharmacies and are available in Port Douglas at the Live Life Pharmacies in Macrossan Street. “Hopefully this initiative by The Cancer Council of Queensland to include it with advice on their Helpline number, will empower many health professionals to recommend a now recognised aid, which is able to boost the quality the life of many suffering with taste issues following chemo,” said Karen.
While the Cancer Council of Queensland can’t endorse any product, they are happy to discuss the fruit with callers on their 13 11 20 Helpline number. A local, who’s family member is undergoing chemo now, told me the operator on the helpline told her that the relative is fine to try the fruit but to use it for a short time to see what benefits they receive.
Local endorsement
Heike and Donald from Port Douglas have written a glowing report on the Miracle Fruit website, in part saying “My husband was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and his Oncologist advised him to get his estate in order, six months was the prediction, almost four years later he is still with us, Rubyberry came to the rescue with Donald starting to eat more and enjoying his food again with his food intake doubling, I also noticed his waxy white skin pallor changed to a much better colour” said Heike.
On the move
In November 2021 Chris and Karen moved their farm with 3000 trees from the Douglas Shire to Childers for a more favourable climate for their trees to fruit all year round, but they will always have a soft spot for the Daintree where it all started. “Local Federal MP Warren Entsch was so supportive, and we’ll never forget all the help we received from so many people in the Douglas Shire including Newsport and the local radio station,” said Chris.
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