Green Tea Is Inversely Associated with the Incidence of Influenza Infection

Green Tea Is Inversely Associated with the Incidence of Influenza Infection(academic.oup.com)

63 points by batirch 6 years ago | 25 comments

pcj-github 6 years ago |

I'm not sure I'd bank much confidence on a study that used two different surveys of kids and their parents on self-reported tea consumption and possible influenza symptoms. Also, while drinking 1-5 cups per/day was associated in their statistical significance, >5 cups did not.

Leary 6 years ago |

"among Schoolchildren in a Tea Plantation Area"

Perhaps in a tea plantation area, consumption of tea is correlated with occupations of the parents, which in turn is correlated with flu risks?

blaser-waffle 6 years ago | |

If it's a tea planting area its probably more rural. Just having fewer people around is going to lower infection risks -- density is one of the reasons it's spreading fast in China.

qsun 6 years ago |

It may be also correlated with the habit of drinking "hot" water.

eitland 6 years ago | |

Someone I used to work with and who was usually worth listening to said this:

when he was out traveling, felt something brewing and yet had to soldier on then he'd drink as much hot water as possible.

Not coffee, not tea, but just hot water. According to him this could keep it at bay (IIRC) for a couple of days.

Based on your post this seems to be common knowledge, but it would be the first time I heard about except for that.

Edit, had to ask the Internet. Got an answer worthy of a modern day oracle: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=does+hot+water+help+against+influe...

hanniabu 6 years ago | |

Yeah this is what I'd bank on.

LargoLasskhyfv 6 years ago |

Hm. Should have tried https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideritis https://en.sideritis.info/

Get it while you can!1!!

https://kliotea.com/greek-mountain-tea/

nostromo 6 years ago |

I'm surprised 6-13 year olds are drinking several cups of tea a day in Japan. Isn't that a fair amount of caffeine for a kid?

hinkley 6 years ago | |

Green tea is about on a par with Mountain Dew for caffeine per ounce, but closer to Coke for caffeine per serving.

The fermentation process for black tea is longer than green tea, and more of the caffeine becomes solluble, but it's still less that coffee.

hinkley 6 years ago | | |

correction: it's not fermentation, it's an enzymatic process referred to as "oxydation", as I was reminded while fact-checking for another reply.

There is fermented tea, but the tea you drink is probably not.

Mikeb85 6 years ago | |

Nah. Tea has a small amount of the caffeine as coffee and coffee is very safe (takes like 20 cups to OD).

huiyifyj 6 years ago |

So, green tea is good for health...

elif 6 years ago |

Great, now all the stores are going to sell out of green tea, too :(

kesor 6 years ago | |

Don't worry, proper Shizuoka Green tea can cost $20-$30 per 100g, so only the rich can afford to get anti-influenza tea for their children.

sokoloff 6 years ago | | |

That seems wildly cheaper per-serving than going to Starbucks. Plenty of people go to Starbucks.

forkexec 6 years ago |

Would matcha work or no?

pcurve 6 years ago | |

The study doesn't mention matcha but it does mention catechins as primary ingredients responsible for health benefits. Matacha contains several times more of the substance.

Somewhat related article. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/matcha-green-tea

numpad0 6 years ago | |

Matcha is just milled green tea brewed in a mug and beaten up, like coffee and espresso difference

jansan 6 years ago | |

And would Matcha ice cream work?