Bananas will help cure the flu
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Bananas are an excellent antiviral agent - this was stated by an international group of researchers. Scientists in the process of work have established that bananas, rather the substance that they contain, effectively resists the virus of influenza, hepatitis C and HIV.
The studies were carried out on laboratory rodents. Scientists have introduced into the diet of their experimental bananas - the purpose of the experiment was to determine how such food will affect the life and health of animals. The special protein H84T, which is a part of bananas, has the property of controlling sugar outside cells and the level of viruses. It is this protein that prevents the virus from hitting cells, while the protein itself does not have any side effects. As a result of their experiments, scientists have established that a banana diet helps rodents to tolerate influenza and other viral infections more easily .
Based on the data obtained, the scientists intend to develop a full-fledged drug based on H84T protein. In addition, scientists recommend that patients add to their diet this tasty and useful treat. By the way, in the Imperial College, experts also studied the properties of banana and found that children who regularly eat bananas (at least once a day) are less likely to develop asthma. Another healing property of bananas is their ability to improve digestion and combat constipation due to specific fibers. In addition, potassium-rich fruit improves appetite and normalizes the balance of electrolytes in the digestive tract.
The medicinal properties of bananas were announced a few months ago, when Japanese specialists conducted a series of experiments and established that mature fruits help to reduce inflammatory processes in the body, which are known to be one of the main causes of cancer.
The researchers stated that fruits with a darkened skin or a rich yellow color with black dots are especially useful for our immunity. Inclusion in the diet of such bananas will help immunity better to resist pathogens.
Studies have shown that mature bananas contain substances that help activate specific cells in the body that produce an anti-inflammatory protein. A high level of such proteins allows to slow down the development of the oncological process. Experts themselves noted that they did not expect that the fruit familiar to all would be so useful in the fight against cancer. According to one of the researchers, the ripe a banana, the more it contains substances that activate white blood cells, and unripe fruits do not have such properties.
White blood cells help our body maintain overall health and resist viruses and bacteria. But in any case, experiments in this area continue, and scientists still have a lot of work that can confirm, or refute their assumptions about the benefits of bananas in the fight against cancer.
But in any case, these fruits should be included in your diet, but people suffering from diabetes or with kidney diseases should limit the use of bananas.