Drinking grape juice to prevent stomach flu is unproven

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

With the continued coronavirus pandemic and the arrival of flu season, some folks have turned to unproven, at-home cures to remain wholesome.

One Fb consumer claims consuming 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 12 months… I make my household drink grape juice each day from now till March,” reads a Sept. 13 Facebook post that amassed 6,900 shares inside two weeks. “Just some 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 completely different parenting blogs for years and usually resurfaces within the fall and winter.

Nevertheless, there’s no proof consuming grape juice can forestall or remedy norovirus, in accordance with specialists 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 consumer who shared the publish for remark.

No proof to assist grape juice treatment

Specialists and analysis courting again to the Nineteen Seventies point out consuming grape juice will not be 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 Medication, mentioned whereas the phenolic compounds in fruit juices have pure antiviral properties, most research have been finished with animals or cell cultures, not people.

“To this point, no research in people have been finished so we fully lack (the) capacity to suggest dose or frequency,” Doerfler mentioned through e mail. “There isn’t any hazard to having folks drink grape juice preventatively, and it’s a part of a nutritious diet, however the declare that just some sips a day is protecting will not be 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 can be mandatory to substantiate the effectiveness of such compounds towards human norovirus.”

One other research published in 1978 within the Journal of Meals Safety seemed particularly on the antiviral properties of grape juice and located it “has not been proven prone 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 danger elements related to cardiovascular well being, most cancers, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and neurodegenerative illnesses.

Nevertheless, no human scientific trials have been carried out 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 e mail that whereas 100% fruit juices provide 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 Medication, mentioned it’s “improper for anybody to conclude that both consuming grape juice, consuming grapes, consuming wine, or consuming any grape product will present any profit by any means.”

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

Well being officers suggest meals security, hand-washing

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

Working towards correct hand hygiene, getting 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 dwelling from work and cooking seafood totally.

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

Our ranking: False

Primarily based on our analysis, we charge FALSE the declare that consuming grape juice each day prevents the abdomen flu. Well being specialists say that, whereas grape juice does include helpful vitamins, utilizing it to deal with or forestall abdomen flu is unproven. There isn’t any scientific proof to assist the declare. Hand-washing, cleansing surfaces and getting ready meals safely are beneficial to stop the norovirus.