Tea During A Pandemic

For the first time in more than a century, we are currently within the grips of a worldwide pandemic. Besides staying at home, wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, everyone has had to learn to adapt to the situation in nearly every aspect of our lives. Even with these precautions, avoiding any potential exposure to Covid-19 is still a huge worry for everyone.

Here on our blog, we’ve never been shy about sharing all the potential benefits of tea to our sense of well-being and good health. Every day researchers are finding more reasons to make tea a part of our daily routine, and now there may be a bit of good news on the horizon for tea lovers as it relates to the current pandemic.

Of course, we want to stress that it’s very important for everyone to do their part by following the current guidelines that have been recommended by our nation’s health experts, like Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Consistently following these good habits and the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional is crucial, especially during this time.

Can Tea Help? 

According to a recent article appearing on the Microsoft news website, recent research has showed that tea may help. In a study conducted by a professor of plant biology at North Carolina State University, research has shown that certain chemical constituents within green tea may inhibit SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. 

The initial results found by Dr. De-Yu Xie were recently published in a peer-reviewed journal and showed that compounds found in green tea are known to contain antiviral properties. When the pandemic spread across the U.S., Xie, who is a native of China and his colleague, Yue Zhu, conducted both laboratory tests and computer simulations and found that the flavonoids filled what he referred to as “pockets” in the virus’s protease. 

Dr. Xie explained that when the flavonoids filled the “pockets” of M pro, which is the main protease in SARS-CoV-2, the virus lost its ability to both assemble and replicate itself.

If we can inhibit or deactivate this protease, the virus will die,” Xie said.

Dr. Xie also found that these flavonoids are found in at least two varieties of Muscadine grapes and dark chocolate. However, these foods did not contain \ levs as high as those found within tea. His research found that plants protect themselves in a ssimilarlnst diseases and pests. The st

udy conducted at North Carolina State University identified at least five chemical compounds within green tea which that binde pockets on the M pro protease and acted to inhibit growth. 

udy conducted at North Carolina State University identified at least five chemical compounds within green tea which bound itself to the pockets on the M pro protease and acted to inhibit growth. 

So far, however, Dr. Xie’s research has not been conducted on humans and recommends that as hopeful as the research appears to be, nothing can take the place of vaccines and other therapeutic measures.

Dr. Xie hopes that the team’s research may be enough to convince other doctors and scientific peers to take a closer look and potentially collaborate.

Additional Research

Other scientific teams have also been looking at the potential effects of tea on the novel coronavirus. In April 2020, the UPASI Tea Research Institute in Tamil Nadu, India, and other research teams in Taiwan and China began their own research. 

CL Shreedharan, Chairman of the UPASI Tea Research Institute, told reporters that all three of the Asian teams’ initial research found that polyphenols inhibited SARS-CoV-2. The virus inhibiting flavonols, Theaflavins-1, Theaflavins-2, and Theaflavins-3, were found in abundance within the various plant species of Camellia sinensis.

Staying Healthy During Trying Times

As hopeful as this news is, it can’t be considered a cure. We all need to take every precaution to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. While many people have found it a challenge to avoid becoming too sedentary during the pandemic, getting plenty of rest, and some exercise, even if it is mostly indoors or outdoors while practicing social distancing, can help. 

Taking time out to enjoy a hot cup of tea during the day or even before bedtime can act as the perfect stress reliever. Tea also naturally boosts your energy while relaxing you and contains powerful antioxidants to reduce further the effects of pollutants in our homes and the environment that can attack our bodies’ cells. 

Studies worldwide suggest that green tea can help lower the risk of some cancers, high blood pressure and even help affect weight loss dental health. 

With more people at home, there are many more finding comfort in enjoying a cup of tea every day. During the early days of the pandemic tea market, experts showed that harvesting and processing tea has also posed challenges to getting tea to market in order to meet the demand. 

While there have been some occasional delays here at Sir Jason Winters International, we’ve made every effort to ensure that we can supply our customer’s favorite teas to them quickly and safely. We take pride in delivering our products directly to your door, so you don’t have to leave the comfort and safety of your own home. 

We invite you to try Sir Jason Winter’s Green Tea here, as well as our many other tea varieties.   

You may also wish to take advantage of our convenient biweekly or monthly subscription service for additional worry-free convenience. You can get all of our Sir Jason Winters’ products sent directly to you as often as you wish.

If you’re thinking of loved ones who you haven’t been able to see during these trying times, why not consider a safe and healthy gift for them by sending them a Sir Jason Winters eGift Card at any amount that you choose? Just fill out their email address and the amount of your gift, and we will deliver it to them automatically. 

Resources

Can Green Tea Help Inhibit the COVID-19 Virus? NC State Research Looks Promising.” by Zacchary Eanes, The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC, MSN Lifestyle, 2020. Web. 20 Dec. 2020.

Coronavirus: Emerging Evidence of Health Benefits of Tea to Combat Covid-19.” Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India, 18 Apr. 2020. Web. 20 Jan. 2021.

Coronavirus Brews Trouble for Tea, Disrupts Supply as Demand Spikes.” by Jadhav, Rajendra, and Polina Devitt. Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 29 Apr. 2020. Web. 26 Jan. 2021.

“The Everything Healthy Tea Book: Discover the Healing Benefits of Tea” by Babbette Donaldson, Adams Media, 2014. Print.

“The Book of Green Tea” by Diana Rosen, Pownal, VT: Storey, 1994. Print.

“Docking Characterization and in Vitro Inhibitory Activity of Flavan-3-ols and Dimeric Proanthocyanidins Against the Main Protease Activity of SARS-Cov-2.” by Zhu, Yue, and De-Yu Xie. Frontiers. Frontiers, 06 Nov. 2020. Web. 20 Jan. 2021.

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