How Banana Smoothies Could Save Lives

Smoothies fortified with iron nanoparticles could cure malnutrition in billions of people in developing countries.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on June 11 2010

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Banana smoothies are already healthy and delicious—but new nanoparticle technology from ETH Zurich could turn the tasty treat into a lifesaver for billions of people in developing nations.

More than 2 billion people across the globe suffer from anemia, which is due to a lack of iron in the blood and can cause complications during childbirth, diarrhea, pneumonia, and other dangerous conditions.

When food is fortified with iron supplements, it typically becomes discolored and takes on a bad flavor, so people are less likely to eat it. If the iron is ground into smaller particles, this problem is solved, but the iron isn’t absorbed well. But the new nanoparticles, which are formed by dissolving iron in water and then heating the solution to crystallize the particles, can solve both problems.

When Swiss scientists tested their nanoiron on anemic rats, they mixed the particles into chocolate milk and banana smoothies, and found that the fortified drinks cured the anemia with no ill effects. Although the substance hasn’t been tested on humans yet, it could be a promising development in curing malnutrition all over the world.

Filed under: Health and Wellbeing, Science,

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