Influenza

Green tea has evoked great interest within the medical community in the past few decades.  Evidence has been mounting regarding the anticancer, antiviral, and other preventative medicinal effects of green tea.  The compounds of interest within green tea are called polyphenols. Within this group of chemicals (also known as tea tannins), the best known is Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). Other green tea polyphenols with similar properties are Epicatechin, Epigallocatechin, and Epicatechin Gallate. The preventative medicinal properties of green tea polyphenols are broad and numerous.  The green tea polyphenol EGCG has been found to block the infectivity of the Influenza virus. Researchers have found that EGCG blocks the Influenza virus binding and entry into cells in a laboratory cell culture. The premise is that to block the spread of influenza in the body and its damaging effects to various tissues, inhibiting the binding of the virus to cells is very important. The virus needs to bind to a cell to enter, infect, and subsequently destroy the cell (the virus takes over the cell's metabolic machinery and directs it to solely make more influenza viruses, eventually destroying the cell in the process). Thus, blocking the binding of the virus halts the spread of infection within the body.  In summary, green tea polyphenols(especially EGCG) demonstrate promise as inhibitors of Influenza virus.  Although further studies are needed, green tea polyphenols may prove an important addition to the Western diet in preventing diseases like cancer and reducing the oxidative effects of free oxygen radicals.

 

Antioxidants
Caffeine
Cancer
Cholesterol
Diabetes
Green Tea Diet & Weight Loss
Halitosis
Heart Disease
High Blood pressure
Influenza
Osteoporosis
 

 

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Green Tea Health Benefits || Influenza
Green tea has been the preferred beverage for centuries in many Asian and European countries. Tea has many therapeutic uses as well as being a form of ritual and ceremony.  The calming tranquility attained from relaxing, and enjoying a warm cup of green tea can be the most beneficial form of therapy yet.  It has been said that laughter is the best medicine, so enjoy a cup of tea with a friend and reap the health benefits of green tea.
      
Courageous - Health Benefits from Green Tea
Courageous
 
A gem can not be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials
Chinese Proverb