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The Claim: Drinking Grape Juice Daily Prevents Stomach Flu
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the onset of flu season, some people have turned to unproven home remedies to stay healthy.
A Facebook user claims that drinking grape juice will prevent or treat norovirus, also known as “stomach flu,” a contagious disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
“It’s that time of year … I make my family drink grape juice every day until March,” read a September 13 article. Facebook post which accumulated 6,900 shares in two weeks. “Just a few sips a day. It prevents the stomach virus from attaching to your digestive system if you are exposed to the virus.
The claim that grape juice can treat or prevent stomach flu has circulated on various parental blogs for years and usually resurfaces in the fall and winter.
However, there is no evidence that drinking grape juice can prevent or cure norovirus, according to experts who spoke to USA TODAY. Numerous fact checkers, news sites and health experts debunked the claim. To avoid getting sick, the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages wash hands, disinfect contaminated surfaces and wash food and laundry thoroughly.
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USA TODAY has contacted the social media user who shared the post for comment.
No evidence to support a grape juice remedy
Experts and research dating back to the 1970s indicate that drinking grape juice is not a proven way to treat or prevent stomach flu.
Bethany Doerfler, a clinical research dietitian in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern University School of Medicine, said that although the phenolic compounds in fruit juices have natural antiviral properties, most studies were conducted in animals or cell cultures, not humans.
“To date, no human studies have been done, so we completely lack (the) ability to recommend dose or frequency,†Doerfler said via email. “It’s safe to drink grape juice as a preventative, and it’s part of a healthy diet, but the claim that a few sips a day is protective is not based on evidence. ”
Doerfler pointed out a 2014 study, who found “no norovirus specific antiviral drugs or vaccines” are available for norovirus. The researchers found that although foods containing flavonoids and polyphenols have anti-norovirus activity, “further studies will be needed to confirm the efficacy of these compounds against human noroviruses.”
Another study published in 1978 in the Journal of Food Protection looked specifically at the antiviral properties of grape juice and found that it “has not been shown to prevent or modify human enterovirus infections.” More recently, a Article 2010 in Nutrition Reviews Compounds found in grapes may have a positive effect on risk factors associated with cardiovascular health, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.
However, no human clinical trials have been conducted on antiviral activity and grape juice.
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Linda van horn, professor of preventive medicine in epidemiology at Northwestern University, said in an email that while 100% fruit juices offer many beneficial nutrients, “preventing stomach flu or whatever is not proven “.
In the same way, Dr Richard Martinello, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine and pediatrics at Yale Medicine, said it is “incorrect for anyone to conclude that drinking grape juice, eating grapes, drinking wine, or eating any product made from it. grape will bring any benefit whatsoever “.
“In no way (would) any competent clinician suggest the use of grape juice to prevent or treat influenza, or any grape product for that matter,†Martinello said.
Health officials recommend food safety, hand washing
There are no vaccine for noroviruses, but health officials recommend hand washing and other preventative measures to avoid getting sick.
Practicing good hand hygiene, preparing food safely, thoroughly cleaning surfaces, utensils and counters, and washing laundry can prevent norovirus infection, in accordance with the CDC.
The The Mayo Clinic recommends avoid contaminated food and water, avoid travel, stay home after work, and cook seafood well.
The best drinks to drink for stomach flu are clear liquids, decaffeinated herbal teas, electrolyte replacements, and ice cubes, depending on the Cleveland Clinic.
Our rating: False
Based on our research, we deem the claim that daily consumption of grape juice prevents stomach flu to be FALSE. Health experts claim that while grape juice contains beneficial nutrients, its use to treat or prevent stomach flu is unproven. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim. Safe hand washing, surface cleaning and food preparation are recommended to prevent norovirus.
Our sources of fact-checking:
- Bethany Doerfler, September 23, email exchange with USA TODAY
- Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, November 20, 2014, Inactivation of noroviruses and substitutes by natural phytochemicals and bioactive substances
- J Power supply Prot. February 1979, Antiviral efficacy of grape juice
- Nutritional reviews, November 1, 2010, Biomedical effects of grape products
- Healthline, May 7, 2020, Grape juice doesn’t fight stomach bugs – here’s why
- Linda van horn, September 22, email exchange with USA TODAY
- Richard martinello, September 22, telephone interview with USA TODAY
- Clinical infectious diseases, June 15, 2014, The status of norovirus vaccines
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 5 Prevention of noroviruses
- Mayo Clinic, consulted on September 23 Norovirus infection
- Cleveland Clinic, September 28, 2020, What to eat, drink and avoid when you have stomach flu
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Our fact-checking work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
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