I just started drinking black tea in December and this is the first winter ever, that I did not have at least one bad cold or the flu. It might be just a cooincidence but all I can think of is the tea. Anyone else experience this?
Steve
Any hot beverage will keep your head and chest clear which may mean that you are not building up junk in your sinuses and chest. this may mean that anything you are breathing in is getting vacated from those areas quicker than if they were just sitting there in mucus. so you may have a better chance of not catching a cold or virus with any hot beverage. this is what i have always heard from my grandmother (late 80's and healthy as a horse) she is an avid tea drinker as well. lots of old time remedies and such. lol
Milder respiratory infection season
This years' 'flu season was considerably milder in terms of reported cases (influenza and ILI, influenza-like infections) than last year.
CDC graph, 2008-09 season, cumulative to date:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarc ... age081.gif
Prior three seasons, graph:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarc ... _small.gif
Keeping hydrated reduces whole system stress. Chronic dehydration can impair infection resistance. Overly dry air in modern heated homes that are tightly sealed appears to increase influenza and cold virus infection risk, probably arising from upper respiratory tract mucosal dryness and post-nasal drip irritation.
Animal and model cell system studies suggest that tea components may boost natural resistance against viral and bacterial infections in humans. There are also reports documenting inflammation control activity, although the molecular mechanisms aren't well understood.
CDC graph, 2008-09 season, cumulative to date:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarc ... age081.gif
Prior three seasons, graph:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarc ... _small.gif
Keeping hydrated reduces whole system stress. Chronic dehydration can impair infection resistance. Overly dry air in modern heated homes that are tightly sealed appears to increase influenza and cold virus infection risk, probably arising from upper respiratory tract mucosal dryness and post-nasal drip irritation.
Animal and model cell system studies suggest that tea components may boost natural resistance against viral and bacterial infections in humans. There are also reports documenting inflammation control activity, although the molecular mechanisms aren't well understood.
