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 Green tea lovers and manufacturers alike will be happy to hear this news, as it will be added as another one of the many benefits attributed to taking the stuff. Apart from helping to prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's, green tea has been found out to have components that may "keep HIV at bay".
A research made at the University of Sheffield, found out that a component in green tea, 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.
The work is still in its primitive stages, but the scientists believe that drinking green tea could reduce the risk of becoming infected by HIV, and could also slow down the spread of HIV. Researcher Professor Mike Williamson suggests that it should be used with conventional medicines to improve the quality of life of HIV carriers.
We may still be far from finding an exact cure for HIV, but at this stage, even little preventors like green tea might just help those living with the infection. The drink can not be made a substitute for proper medication, though. Scientists are still working on finding more about the potential preventive power of green tea.
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