Drinking green tea could help in the fight against HIV
I like to take green tea extracts several times a day – now there’s possibly another reason to love green tea. The tests are only test tube studies – but still, take your green tea boys!
Green tea ‘may keep HIV at bay’
“Scientists found a component called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) prevents HIV from binding to immune system cells by getting there first.
Once EGCG has bound to immune system cells there is no room for HIV to take hold in its usual fashion.
However, experts said the joint UK and US work, which appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, was at a very preliminary stage.
We suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected
Researcher Professor Mike Williamson, of the University of Sheffield, said: “Our research shows that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of becoming infected by HIV, and could also slow down the spread of HIV.
“It is not a cure, and nor is it a safe way to avoid infection, however, we suggest that it should be used in combination with conventional medicines to improve quality of life for those infected. “
