Don’t want to catch a cold or flu when the temperature drops? Every year, there are millions of cases of common colds, and even the strongest immune system can get sick in the autumn and winter seasons. But there is a simple (and delicious) way to protect yourself: add some immune-boosting foods to your daily diet. Black tea is a good option.
Why is black tea said to have some anti-flu effects?
1.Studies Show That Black Tea Can Deactivate a Large Number of Influenza Viruses.
In 1992, researchers from the Department of Medicine at Showa University in Japan conducted a study. The researchers used tea bags to brew black tea for the experiment. The first step was to brew the tea bags sold on the market at the usual concentration and use it as the experimental liquid. The second step was to mix the test liquid with one million new influenza viruses, and after 10 seconds, confirm their infectivity with animal cells. The test results: when the test liquid was at the drinking concentration (polyphenol content: 101.1mg/ml, calculated by the iron tartaric acid method), less than 10 viruses were detected; when the concentration was diluted by 5 times with distilled water, the virus was still less than 10.
The researchers explained in a subsequent paper that the main mechanism of black tea’s anti-flu effect is the vitality resistance produced by the combined action of polyphenols and theaflavins. For example, the principle of polyphenols is that the surface of influenza virus has a spike-like protrusion, which invades the mucous membrane of human respiratory organs and causes infection, while black tea polyphenols can adsorb on the spike, thus taking away the virus’s infectivity.
Some people will say that black tea is a fully fermented tea, and the polyphenols in it are oxidized; there is no polyphenol in black tea, and the above research is untenable. In fact, although black tea is a fully fermented tea, compared with green tea, polyphenols are reduced by more than 90%, and new components such as theaflavins and thearubigins are produced, but polyphenols still exist. It’s just that the polyphenol content in black tea is not as much as theaflavins, thearubigins and other components.
2.Some Substances in Black Tea Can Help People Enhance Immunity
In addition to the experimental evidence that black tea can deactivate a large number of influenza viruses, there are also some substances in black tea that can help the body enhance immunity.
Some studies have shown that theanine, which is rich in black tea, can significantly improve the body’s immunity, and theanine can also have a sedative effect, making people feel relaxed, calm, and happy when drinking tea, which is partly due to theanine.
Black tea is also rich in vitamin C and vitamin E. Vitamin C and vitamin E are two important antioxidants that can help enhance the function of the immune system, making the body more able to cope with viral invasion. To make better use of black tea, it is recommended that you drink better quality loose leaf black tea.
3.Black Tea Is a Warm Tea
Black tea has a high degree of fermentation, which reduces the amount of polyphenols that irritate the stomach, and also makes black tea warm rather than cold, with a certain effect of warming the body and mind.
Influenza often occurs in cold weather, at this time drink a few cups of black tea, let the body warm up, to prevent influenza is helpful.
What kind of black tea is suitable for daily drinking? I recommend Yingde Black tea and Yunnan Black Tea, both of which have a very good taste, and can be drunk alone or with milk. If you are not sure what kind of black tea suits you, you can also try iTeaworld’s Black Tea Sampler, and find your favorite black tea.
Other Recommendations for Preventing the Flu
1.Exercise to Enhance Immunity
Active exercise can effectively prevent the flu. You can choose your favorite way, such as running, climbing and other sports to exercise and enhance your body’s immunity.
2.Rest Well and Keep Energetic
Having enough sleep and maintaining a good sleep state can enhance the body’s resistance. You should pay attention to avoid staying up late and other situations.
3.Arrange Your Diet Reasonably and Improve Your Body’s Immunity
You should pay attention to control the intake of meat dishes and eat more vegetables. You should eat less high-calorie and high-fat food. Pay attention to balance the various nutrients and improve your body’s immunity.
4.Keep Warm and Prevent the Flu
In the cold and warm alternation and the flu outbreak, you should pay attention to increase clothes and keep the indoor light sufficient (sunlight has a certain sterilization and disinfection effect). If you feel unwell, you should seek medical attention in time.
If you want to get a better anti-flu effect, it is recommended that you choose high-quality black tea such as loose leaf black tea. Loose leaf tea is better than tea bags in many aspects, and you can experience it by trying more. If you want to buy the best loose leaf tea, it is recommended to choose a reliable purchase channel.
Cold or flu are caused by viruses, and you need your own immunity to get through this process. Choosing nutritious ingredients can help us increase our resistance and shorten the recovery time. Combined with good daily habits, we can effectively enhance our immunity and resist diseases such as colds and flu. The body is the capital of the revolution, protect your health, so that you can better devote yourself to work, study and life.
