Drinking grape juice to prevent stomach flu is unproven

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The declare: Consuming grape juice day by day prevents the abdomen flu

With the continuing coronavirus pandemic and the arrival of flu season, some individuals have turned to unproven, at-home treatments to remain wholesome.

One Fb person claims ingesting grape juice will forestall or deal with norovirus, often known as the “abdomen flu” – a contagious sickness that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

“It is that point of yr… I make my household drink grape juice day by day from now till March,” reads a Sept. 13 Facebook post that amassed 6,900 shares inside two weeks. “Only a few sips every day. It retains the abdomen bug from attaching to your digestive system if you happen to’re uncovered to the virus.”

The declare that grape juice can deal with or forestall abdomen flu has circulated on totally different parenting blogs for years and usually resurfaces within the fall and winter.

Nevertheless, there’s no proof ingesting grape juice can forestall or remedy norovirus, in keeping with consultants who spoke with USA TODAY. Quite a few fact-checkers, news sites and health experts have debunked the declare. To keep away from getting sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages hand-washing, disinfecting contaminated surfaces and washing meals and laundry totally.

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USA TODAY reached out to the social media person who shared the publish for remark.

No proof to help grape juice treatment

Specialists and analysis courting again to the Nineteen Seventies point out ingesting grape juice isn’t a confirmed solution to deal with or forestall abdomen flu.

Bethany Doerfler, scientific analysis dietitian within the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at Northwestern College’s Faculty of Drugs, mentioned whereas the phenolic compounds in fruit juices have pure antiviral properties, most research have been executed with animals or cell cultures, not people.

“To this point, no research in people have been executed so we utterly lack (the) capacity to suggest dose or frequency,” Doerfler mentioned through electronic mail. “There is no such thing as a hazard to having individuals drink grape juice preventatively, and it’s a part of a nutritious diet, however the declare that only a few sips a day is protecting isn’t evidence-based.”

Doerfler pointed to a 2014 study, which discovered “no norovirus-specific antiviral medication or vaccines” can be found for the norovirus. Researchers discovered that whereas meals containing flavonoids and polyphenols have anti-norovirus exercise, “future research shall be mandatory to verify the effectiveness of such compounds in opposition to human norovirus.”

One other research published in 1978 within the Journal of Meals Safety appeared particularly on the antiviral properties of grape juice and located it “has not been proven more likely to forestall or modify human enterovirus infections.” Extra just lately, a 2010 paper in Nutrition Reviews discovered compounds in grapes can positively have an effect on threat components related to cardiovascular well being, most cancers, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and neurodegenerative illnesses.

Nevertheless, no human scientific trials have been performed on antiviral exercise and grape juice.

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Linda Van Horn, a professor of preventive drugs in epidemiology at Northwestern College, mentioned in an electronic mail that whereas 100% fruit juices supply many helpful vitamins, “prevention of abdomen flu or anything is unproven.”

Equally, Dr. Richard Martinello, an infectious illnesses specialist and affiliate professor of drugs and pediatrics at Yale Drugs, mentioned it’s “improper for anybody to conclude that both ingesting grape juice, consuming grapes, ingesting wine, or consuming any grape product will present any profit by any means.”

“On no account (would) any competent clinician counsel using grape juice to stop or deal with influenza, or another grape product for that matter,” Martinello mentioned.

Well being officers suggest meals security, hand-washing

There may be no vaccine for noroviruses, however well being officers suggest hand-washing and different preventative measures to keep away from getting sick.

Practising correct hand hygiene, making ready meals safely, totally cleansing surfaces, utensils and counters, and washing laundry can forestall a norovirus an infection, per the CDC.

The Mayo Clinic recommends avoiding contaminated meals and water, avoiding journey, staying residence from work and cooking seafood totally.

The most effective drinks to drink for abdomen flu are clear liquids, decaffeinated natural tea, electrolyte replacements and ice chips, in keeping with the Cleveland Clinic.

Our score: False

Primarily based on our analysis, we price FALSE the declare that ingesting grape juice day by day prevents the abdomen flu. Well being consultants say that, whereas grape juice does comprise helpful vitamins, utilizing it to deal with or forestall abdomen flu is unproven. There is no such thing as a scientific proof to help the declare. Hand-washing, cleansing surfaces and making ready meals safely are advisable to stop the norovirus.