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Green Tea
and Bacteria/Viruses
Bacteria and viruses are
invisible to the naked eye, but they’re virtually everywhere. And while
many of these one-celled organisms are harmless, others can cause raging
infections that can kill a person in a matter of days. Both bacteria and
viruses can be transmitted in many ways – through unwashed hands,
spoiled food, contaminated surfaces, the exchange of bodily fluids or a
cough or a sneeze, just to name a few.
The immune system is supposed to
destroy these pathogens or at least keep them under control. But sometimes it’s
simply too overworked to do so, or can’t finish the job even when operating at
full steam. Fortunately, green tea may be able to help.
Green tea has its very own
antibacterial and antiviral capabilities, most likely put there to defend the
plant against invading insects, bacteria, fungi and viruses. And these defenses
can be powerful! Studies have shown that tea catechins can fight or even destroy
the bacteria that cause cholera, pneumonia, abscesses, botulism, dysentery and
food poisoning, as well as those that cause cavities and bad breath. As for
viruses, the catechins can inhibit the action of the flu virus, herpes simplex,
polio, HIV and others.
The great part about all of this
is that you may be able to “borrow” some of the incredible disease-fighting
prowess of the tea leaf just by drinking green tea. And it doesn’t take a gallon
of tea to do this. One study found that the amount of catechins in just one cup
of tea was 2-3 times greater than that needed to kill the bacteria that cause
cholera..1
Just imagine what it may be able to do to less powerful bacteria!
(Toda
M, Okubo S, Ikigai H, et al. The protective activity of tea catechins against
experimental infection by
Vibrio cholerae
O1. Microbiol Immunol 1992;36(9):999-1001.
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com, the most
comprehensive collection of scientific information describing the
health benefits of green tea.
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