Fact Check: No, banana water can’t help clear bronchitis or cleanse lungs
Bronchitis cannot be cured by consuming water filtered from squeezed banana.
By Neelambaran A Published on 4 Oct 2024 4:30 AM GMT
Claim: Consuming water strained from mashed bananas can help cleanse the lungs and cure bronchitis.
Fact: The claim is false. While eating bananas is healthy, they can’t cure bronchitis.
An Instagram video claiming that water strained from mashed bananas can help cleanse and detox lungs, relieve cough and cure bronchitis has gone viral.
The voiceover in the video suggests peeling and squeezing the banana and mixing water with it before resting the mixture for 15 minutes. It advises drinking water strained from the mixture with honey to cure bronchitis and strengthen the immune system.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. There is no scientific evidence to back the claim.
Dr V Harish, consultant interventional pulmonologist at Amor Hospitals, Hyderabad, said, “The claims made are absolutely false. Most South Indians consume a variety of bananas throughout their life. If it has some medicinal benefit as mentioned in the claim, most of us should never suffer from bronchitis or any lung-related problems.”
Bronchitis is when the airways leading to the lungs get inflamed and filled with mucus. This can happen due to inflammation from viral infections including flu, cold and Covid-19 or inhalation of smoke and other irritants.
“Eating bananas can always be healthy since they contain potassium, calcium, magnesium and other nutrients including Vitamin C and contain fibres. However, this can never help cleanse the lungs or prevent bronchitis,” Dr Harish added.
Treatment for bronchitis
Most people do not require any treatment for acute bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis, which can be a result of a family history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is manageable too.
“The treatments include bronchodilators, chest physiotherapy or plain steam inhalation. Even consuming lukewarm water frequently can bring relief from bronchitis,” Dr Harish said.
Experts continue to caution people to remain vigilant about the unscientific claims in social media under the guise of home remedies and natural supplements.
