Lemon juice against noroviruses: The surprising protection from the kitchen!

Lemon juice against noroviruses: The surprising protection from the kitchen!

In times when noroviruses are causing outbreaks in schools, hospitals and even on cruise ships, a very simple food from the refrigerator could revolutionize our everyday lives: lemon juice. Researchers from the C.H.S. Foundation's Norovirus Working Group at the German Cancer Research Center and the University of Heidelberg have achieved remarkable results and found that citric acid can significantly reduce the infectious ability of these annoying viruses. chip reports on the groundbreaking findings of the study, which was carried out under the direction of Grant Hansman and was published in the journal “Lancet”, among others.

The researchers found that citric acid (citrate) blocks the binding sites of noroviruses. This means that infection with the virus can be effectively prevented. With this discovery, lemon juice could even completely clean contaminated hands, which could significantly improve hand hygiene in restaurants and private households. Hansman suggests that lemon juice could be applied specifically to oysters to make them safer to consume. However, there is currently no drug available to directly combat noroviruses, highlighting the need for such alternative approaches.

Citric acid in research

In addition to the ability to deactivate noroviruses, the scientists have also addressed other interesting questions. Loud DKFZ The amount of citrate in lemon juice could be enough to decontaminate contaminated hands. This opens up new perspectives in food and hygiene technology. Fruit extracts such as pomegranate juice have also been studied and shown potential to reduce the infectivity of noroviruses. Research is clearly evolving, and researchers plan to find out whether citric acid can also relieve symptoms in people who are already infected.

Noroviruses are widespread worldwide and are considered the main cause of around 50% of all gastrointestinal diseases. Children and older people are particularly at risk, as they can quickly become ill when eating contaminated food or through direct contact with infected people. Just 10 to 100 virus particles are enough for an infection. Transmission usually occurs through the fecal-oral route, but also through contaminated surfaces and food, such as Plant research clarified.

Practical applications in everyday life

It is significant that citric acid is not only found in lemons, but can also be found in numerous other plants and even in the metabolism of all living things. The studies show that lemon juice can be easily used to improve hygiene in the kitchen and in food processing. The researchers are also considering optimizing existing disinfectants with citric acid to increase their effectiveness against noroviruses.

In the future, lemon juice could not only serve as a refreshing drink, but also as a practical shield against noroviruses. Who would have thought that such a simple food could have so much impact? Using lemon juice could prove to be the key to fighting these annoying viruses and protect us from unpleasant surprises in the coming winter season. In botany and physiology, the small citrus fruit universe may hold not only refreshment but also the solution to an ongoing health problem.