Some of our favorite polyphenol-rich foods, including green tea, muscadine grapes, cacao, and dark chocolate appear to block an enzyme in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, inhibiting its replication.
A docking simulation and in vitro study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that these flavan-3-ol and proanthocyandin-containing foods can block and bind the function of this enzyme, or protease, which leads to death of the virus. Although these anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant-rich foods have yet to be tested for their inhibitory activity on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in animals or humans, they still offer protective benefits from diseases including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
We are always looking for new and delicious ways to include these foods into our day and two of our favorite recipes featuring these superfoods include Choconut-Mint Squares and Matcha Coconut Gummies.
For a summary of other molecular docking studies that highlight anti-COVID plant compounds, click here.