Bananas are often called the perfect food. They are nutritious, a good source of all kinds of vitamins and minerals. They can help fight depression and ward off muscle cramps. They can lower blood pressure and protect against heart attacks.
To most people, bananas taste great. They add natural sweetness to some baked goods and health drinks. And bananas come in their own protective, biodegradable packaging. So, there are many reasons to eat bananas. And now there is another. Bananas, it turns out, have a secret weapon. And this secret weapon could protect against viruses.
Scientists are now taking a protein found in bananas and turning it into a drug that may someday fight viral infections.
The secret weapon is called banana lectin, or BanLec. BanLec is a protein that attaches to sugar molecules and keeps viruses out of cells. A virus cannot infect what it cannot enter. The team of researchers published their study in the journal Cell. In their article, the researchers say it could be one of the first antiviral agents to treat a wide-range of viruses. These viruses include HIV, hepatitis and even the common flu virus.
