Just In
- 1 hr ago April Fool's Day 2024: Strange And Unusual Pranks That Were Pulled Off On 1st April
- 5 hrs ago Daily Horoscope, 29 March 2024: Gemini Businessmen Should Be Careful, Leo May Not Feel Well Today
- 10 hrs ago Aditi Rao Hydari's 8 Tips for Glowing Skin: A Celebrity Skincare Routine Unveiled, Bonus Tips Included!
- 11 hrs ago April 2024 Health Horoscope: Know How This Month Will Affect Zodiac Signs In Terms Of Wellness
Don't Miss
- Technology Apple iPhone 16 Massive Leaks Reveals an Impressive New Camera Module, Capture Button, and More
- Movies Is Arnold Schwarzenegger Ok? Fubar Season 2 Actor Calls Himself 'Machine' After Recent Heart Surgery
- Finance Good Friday 2024 Holiday: Are Banks Open On March 29 In India?
- News Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge Launches Counter Attack On PM Modi With These Four Questions
- Automobiles Tata Motors Teams Up with Hindustan Petroleum to Expand India's EV Charging Infrastructure
- Sports Sanju Samson's tactic leaves Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly fuming during RR vs DC IPL 2024 Match 9
- Education RSMSSB Junior Instructor Recruitment 2024; Apply online for 2500 Posts, Check out for more details
- Travel Explore Tamil Nadu's Diverse Wedding Venues
COVID-19: 13 Popular Coronavirus Food Myths Busted!
Since its advent in December 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused 932,997 deaths, affecting over 29,459,649 people. Covid-19 can affect anyone, causing symptoms ranging from mild to very severe, where some people may be more likely to have severe illness than others because they have characteristics or medical conditions that increase their risk [1].
Amidst the virus outbreak, there have been a lot of concerns over food safety. WHO and the CDC had assured that there is no evidence to suggest that handling food or consuming food is associated with Covid-19 [2]. However, a recent study by a group of Chinese researchers claimed that the Covid-19 virus could survive for eight days at 4 degrees Celsius in frozen foods [3][4].
While the study may have proven that the virus can be found in frozen foods such as salmon and other meat products, there is an excessive need to carry out more studies on the subject to gather a clearer understanding of the dangers.
In the event of this news, there has been an increase in the paranoia around the coronavirus being spread and contracted through food. So, we have examined some of the most common Coronavirus Food Myths and have fact-checked them for you. Take a look.
Myth 1: Avoiding Ice Cream Can Help Keep You Safe from COVID-19
Fact: False. There is no scientific proof which suggests that eating frozen such as ice-cream spreads the virus, nor that avoiding ice cream and other cold foods can help prevent the onset of the disease [5].
Myth 2: You Can Get COVID-19 From Chinese Food
Fact: False. As ignorant as it sounds, it is impossible to get the coronavirus infection from Chinese food unless and until the food has been exposed to someone with the virus [6].
Myth 3: Garlic Soup Is a Cure
Fact: False. There was a viral claim that "drinking a soup made from boiling eight cloves of garlic in water will "cure" coronavirus. While regular consumption of garlic can help improve your immunity, there is no way that consuming garlic soup will help protect your body against the SARS-CoV-2 virus [7].
Myth 4: Drinking Water Can Help You Avoid COVID-19
Fact: False. Drinking lots of water throughout the day is generally good for your overall health. Still, it is not enough to prevent the onset of coronavirus infection [8]. The claim suggested that drinking water every 15 minutes would wash any virus down the oesophagus so that it will not enter the lungs.
Myth 5: You Can Get COVID-19 From Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Fact: False. It is highly unlikely that people can contract Covid-19 from fresh produce. There is no evidence to date of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food, fruits or vegetables [9]. Although the Chinese study has claimed that the virus can survive in Salmon fish, it talks about frozen foods and not fresh produce.
Stressed During Lockdown? Dark Chocolate, Herbal Tea And Garlic Can Help You Feel Better
Myth 6: Leaving Groceries in Your Car for Over a Day Will Make Them Safer
Fact: No, it won't. Apart from your groceries losing their freshness, nothing else is going to happen to them in the car. The claim suggested that leaving your groceries in the car trunk for a couple of days will make you more likely to stay Covid-19-free.
Myth 7: Adding Pepper To Your Soup Or Other Meals Prevents Coronavirus
Fact: False. While consuming hot peppers in a limited quantity can be beneficial for your health as they contain capsaicin, which acts as an antioxidant to protect your cells and helps tamp down inflammation [10], there is no way that the spicy herb can prevent the coronavirus diseases.
Myth 8: Lemon And Turmeric Help Prevent Covid-19
Fact: False. The combination of lemon and pepper is known to provide a host of health benefits [11]. While the combination has health benefits such as pain relief, inflammation management and sore throat management, it does not help prevent the onset of Covid-19.
Myth 9: Covid-19 Can Be Treated By Gargling With Warm Water Mixed With Salt And Vinegar
Fact: False. While gargling the warm water-vinegar-salt solution may help cure a sore throat, it cannot help with Covid-19 infection [12]. The claim said that "Coronavirus before it reaches the lungs, it remains in the throat for four days and at this time the person begins to cough and have throat pains. If he drinks water a lot and gargles with warm water and salt or vinegar eliminates the virus." WHO pointed out that while rinsing the nose using saline (saltwater) may help people recover from a cold faster, it can in no way prevent respiratory infections [13].
What Pepper, Salt And Lemon Mixture Can Do To Your Body
Myth 10: Drinking Fresh Bitter Gourd Juice Can Cure The Coronavirus
Fact: False. Bitter gourd juice can do so many things, like help maintain the blood sugar levels, lowers bad cholesterol levels, cures hangovers, boosts the immune system and more. But what drinking bitter gourd juice will not do to your body is that it will NOT cure COVID-19 [14].
Myth 11: Eating Chicken Causes Spread Of New Coronavirus
Fact: False. Eating hygienically prepared and well-cooked chicken is safe and healthy for you. However, eating undercooked chicken can cause diarrhoea, bloating, fever, vomiting, and bloody stools, but NOT Covid-19 [15].
Myth 12: Using Mustard Oil In Cooking Can Help Prevent The Spread Of Coronavirus
Fact: False. Cooking with mustard oil has several health benefits due to the presence of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that can help lower the risk of developing ischemic heart disease [16]. However, cooking with mustard is no cure or preventive measure for the coronavirus disease.
Myth 13: Spraying Alcohol Or Chlorine All Over Your Body Kills The Virus
Fact: False. There were reports of people drinking chlorine and excessive amounts of alcohol to kill the coronavirus, which caused deaths around the world. Experts point out that spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body can not kill the new coronavirus.
On A Final Note…
Researchers are extensively studying the possible link between the coronavirus strain and food, and whether there are any possibilities of virus-spread through food. In the meantime, it standard hygiene practices, safe food handling, and using cooking practices that protect us from foodborne illnesses in the time of Covid-19.
- pregnancy parentingMysterious Pneumonia Outbreak In China: What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Pneumonia In Children?
- healthCan You Get Back COVID-Related Loss Of Sense Of Smell And Taste (Parosmia)? Looks Like You Can!
- healthDid Covid-10 Vaccination Increase Risk Of Sudden Deaths In Young Adults? ICMR Finds This..
- wellnessDelhi Air Pollution, Air Quality Very Poor: Do Covid Masks Help Reduce Pollution Side Effects?
- healthNobel Prize 2023: Scientists Behind The COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Wins
- healthWhat Is Disease X? 20 Times More Deadlier Than Covid 19; Can Cause 50 Million Deaths, Does It Have Vaccine?
- healthCOVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Attacks: New Studies Show Different Results; What Are They?
- healthDo You Pick Your Nose? Stop! It Can Increase COVID Risk
- healthEris Variant: WHO Alarms New Covid Wave; Should India Be Concerned About This Pandemic
- healthVitamin D Deficiency Linked With Increased Risk Of Long COVID
- healthCOVID Surge In India: Do You Need A COVID-19 Booster Shot?
- healthCOVID-19: IMA Cites 3 Reasons Behind Recent Surge In Covid-19 Cases: What Are They?