Tea and immune system?

[CutieAgouti]

Hey all! Had a question for anyone who feels like answering.

Went on a long vacation to Hawaii but I went from drinking about 10 cups to none. I tried hard to keep up my habit, yet it was difficult due to constant traveling. By the end of the trip I got pretty sick (unusual for me).

Disregarding all other factors (food, jetlag), has this happened to anyone else? Ever cut back abruptly to find yourself sick as a dog? Was it easy to bounce back? Was drinking tea while sick enjoyable (I found it sad, I couldn't taste a thing).

Thanks!

[Intuit]

Answer PMed to you.

[hooksie]

Don't forget about caffeine withdrawal.

While some people have mild withdrawal symptoms, such as light headaches, some people actually experience "flu like symptoms". Perhaps that is what happened to you CA?

That said, drinking tea would theoretically reverse the effects. Personally, though, I have noticed it may take a day to feel the effects of withdrawal reduced once you start drinking tea again.

[Intuit]

Perils of caffeine withdrawal (2009):

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/06/hm ... index.html

Withdrawal may have added to flu symptoms, causing lethargy, aches and pains (but not probably due to inflammation, but rather rebound sensitivity of (pain receptors) nocireceptors due to low or absent alkaloid (quinine, nicotine, caffeine) suppressors.

However, caffeine withdrawal probably wouldn't affect the sense of smell and taste and afford cold-like symptoms, as would a respiratory viral infection.

[ABx]

Tea does do the immune system good, particularly with colds and flu, but I would imagine that it depends on how vulnerable you are without it. Don't forget, though, that it's very common to get sick after flying.