Green Tea Proven to Help Fight the Flu and Enhances our Immune System
#Flu season is in full swing, so it's never been more important to eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, and practice proper hygiene to avoid getting sick. Every year I find myself asking "Do I get a flu shot"? I have been trying to take the path of #Organic and #Healthy living and that does not include a #Flu shot. I am always researching so I like to pass along any information that may also be beneficial for you and your family. The older I get the more I realize that #Organic, #Healthy eating is a must for our body and soul. For instance, did you know that organic green tea can also help you avoid the flu? In fact, a recent clinical trial showed that green tea-based supplements reduced the risk of flu in adults by a stunning 75%. This is even better than the 60% risk reduction by flu vaccinations as reported in the Lancet! With all of green tea's other known health benefits, this is just one more compelling reason to add green tea to your health regimen.
#GreenTea: Natural Antiviral and Immune Enhancer
For many years it has been known that green tea polyphenols actively supress many bacterial, fungal and viral species. On the virus front, green tea supresses the adenovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, HIV-1, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and influenza viruses. EGCG, one of the main polyphenols in green tea, is mainly responsible for this suppression. Specifically, ECGC binds to the hemagglutinnin of the influenza virus, which blocks it from attaching to (and infecting) target receptor cells. EGCG also alters the virus cell membrane, which further inhibits its ability to infect other cells. In fact, green tea is such a strong viral suppressant it has even been shown effective as an anti-viral hand wash! Another important component of green tea is the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown to activate human gamma-delta-T lymphocytes to proliferate and make interferon-gamma, a potent antimicrobial cytokine. These lymphocytes are considered to be the body’s first line of defense against infection. Green tea therefore offers a two-pronged protection from the flu which vaccination simply cannot match.
Latest Clinical Trial Provides Stunning Results: 75% Less Illness
More recently, a better controlled trial was performed on 198 health care workers. This was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled: the gold standard in clinical trials. The treatment group was each given a daily dose of 378 mg green tea catechins (containing 270 mg EGCG) and 210 mg of theanine from November 2009 to April 2010. The compliance rate in this trial was better: 93% took their pills according to plan. Those taking the green tea experienced 75% less clinically defined flu infection and this was statistically significant (P=0.022). But not all observed sicknesses were bona fide flu. When laboratory tests were used to confirm real influenza infection, it showed that green tea provided a stunning 83% reduction in flu risk, however this was not statistically significant (P=0.112) due to the small number of actual flu cases.
Better Seasonal Health and Many other Health Benefits
This new trial has shown surprising effectiveness of green tea for avoiding the common cold and influenza. The amount of EGCG used in the trial is readily available in many supplements, and is about five cups-worth of green tea. This just happens to also be the amount required to achieve meaningful risk reductions in multiple cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, prostate, oral, liver and lung cancer. And for those who eat citrus fruit on a regular basis, there is strong evidence from a recent study in Japan that green tea synergizes with citrus fruit, resulting in nearly 20% further risk reduction from cancer compared to just green tea alone.
#Flu season is in full swing, so it's never been more important to eat a healthy diet, get enough rest, and practice proper hygiene to avoid getting sick. Every year I find myself asking "Do I get a flu shot"? I have been trying to take the path of #Organic and #Healthy living and that does not include a #Flu shot. I am always researching so I like to pass along any information that may also be beneficial for you and your family. The older I get the more I realize that #Organic, #Healthy eating is a must for our body and soul. For instance, did you know that organic green tea can also help you avoid the flu? In fact, a recent clinical trial showed that green tea-based supplements reduced the risk of flu in adults by a stunning 75%. This is even better than the 60% risk reduction by flu vaccinations as reported in the Lancet! With all of green tea's other known health benefits, this is just one more compelling reason to add green tea to your health regimen.
#GreenTea: Natural Antiviral and Immune Enhancer
For many years it has been known that green tea polyphenols actively supress many bacterial, fungal and viral species. On the virus front, green tea supresses the adenovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, HIV-1, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and influenza viruses. EGCG, one of the main polyphenols in green tea, is mainly responsible for this suppression. Specifically, ECGC binds to the hemagglutinnin of the influenza virus, which blocks it from attaching to (and infecting) target receptor cells. EGCG also alters the virus cell membrane, which further inhibits its ability to infect other cells. In fact, green tea is such a strong viral suppressant it has even been shown effective as an anti-viral hand wash! Another important component of green tea is the amino acid L-theanine, which has been shown to activate human gamma-delta-T lymphocytes to proliferate and make interferon-gamma, a potent antimicrobial cytokine. These lymphocytes are considered to be the body’s first line of defense against infection. Green tea therefore offers a two-pronged protection from the flu which vaccination simply cannot match.
Latest Clinical Trial Provides Stunning Results: 75% Less Illness
More recently, a better controlled trial was performed on 198 health care workers. This was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled: the gold standard in clinical trials. The treatment group was each given a daily dose of 378 mg green tea catechins (containing 270 mg EGCG) and 210 mg of theanine from November 2009 to April 2010. The compliance rate in this trial was better: 93% took their pills according to plan. Those taking the green tea experienced 75% less clinically defined flu infection and this was statistically significant (P=0.022). But not all observed sicknesses were bona fide flu. When laboratory tests were used to confirm real influenza infection, it showed that green tea provided a stunning 83% reduction in flu risk, however this was not statistically significant (P=0.112) due to the small number of actual flu cases.
Better Seasonal Health and Many other Health Benefits
This new trial has shown surprising effectiveness of green tea for avoiding the common cold and influenza. The amount of EGCG used in the trial is readily available in many supplements, and is about five cups-worth of green tea. This just happens to also be the amount required to achieve meaningful risk reductions in multiple cancers, including ovarian, endometrial, prostate, oral, liver and lung cancer. And for those who eat citrus fruit on a regular basis, there is strong evidence from a recent study in Japan that green tea synergizes with citrus fruit, resulting in nearly 20% further risk reduction from cancer compared to just green tea alone.
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