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VERIFY: No, there are no foods that will eliminate COVID-19

A social media post claims eating foods like bananas, garlic and avocados can eliminate the coronavirus. We learned the claim is not based in fact.

TOLEDO, Ohio — You know how the old saying goes: an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, is it true that something like a lemon or an orange can help prevent the coronavirus altogether?

That's the claim a viewer sent us, which appears to lay out a wellness plan for people who may have COVID-19. At the bottom, it says all we have to do to eliminate it is eat foods with more acidity than the virus, like lemons, bananas and garlic, among others.

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We turned to two sources to VERIFY this claim: the World Health Organization and ProMedica Dr. Brian Kaminski.

"Those are the things that I find particularly concerning," Kaminski said. "I would caution anybody from reading and especially following posts by people that don't know or don't have a background in either conducting research, or having vetted and cited the research."

Credit: WTOL

According to the W.H.O., the claim isn't based on research. On the organization's website, it says "no foods or dietary supplements can prevent or cure COVID-19 infection." In fact, there is also a whole webpage dedicated to dispelling rumors just like this one.

Credit: WTOL

So we can VERIFY: this claim is false and does not appear to have any basis in research or fact. None of these foods can prevent or eliminate COVID-19.

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