In Treatment

Taste Changes: Managing Metallic or Bitter Flavors

During or after radiation or chemotherapy treatments, cancer patients may experience taste or smell alterations. Food and drinks can taste bland, too sweet, or too salty. Food and drinks can also taste bitter or metallic — which is what we’re focused on with the roundup of brightly flavored, zingy recipes below. But first, a few helpful hacks: If your glass of water is tasting like metal, try adding... lemon or lime juice to mask the metallic flavor. If food is tasting off or bitter, combine vinegar with maple syrup and lemon juice, and drizzle over your meal.