This Herbal Tea Can Help Prevent Flu

on September 29, 2009 at 4:00 PM

green tea lemon Green tea is good for you -- this we know. It boosts endurance, helps you live longer, and can even be used as a skin toner.

But in times like now, where we're fearing the Swine Flu/H1N1 and with cold and flu season approaching, green tea really can come to the rescue. But it's not green tea alone.

Health.com notes that, "Green tea is rich in immunity-boosting antioxidants, but your body doesn’t absorb them well."

So how do we make sure we get the most of our cup?

Increase absorption by up to 80 percent by adding ounce of lemon juice -- or any citrus juice -- to your tea.

And yes, if you prefer, you can even have it iced. Health suggests Tazo Lemon Green Iced Tea because it's made concentrated lemon juice.

Do you already drink green tea with lemon?

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About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: cold & flu, general health, healthy habits, swine flu

Comments (8)

aurorabunny

on Sep 29, 2009 at 5:06 PM

We've all been drinking a mix of astragalus and marshmellow root that the lady at our herb store mixed up for us. Great for allergies and immunity boosting!

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navyma23

on Sep 29, 2009 at 5:29 PM

Mmm I love green tea!

brandoneaglemom

on Sep 29, 2009 at 11:24 PM

I LOVE GREENTEA AND THIS PAST TIME MY DH GOT SICK FOR OVER 2 WEEKS AND MINE ONLY LASTED 3 DAYS...UPPER RESP VIRUS...BUT WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF GREENTEA HONEY AND LEMON I WAS BETTER IN 3 -5DAYS. THANK GOODNESS. MY FEVER SYMPTOMS AND RUNNY NOSE WAS ONLY 2 DAYS.

athenax3

on Sep 30, 2009 at 7:35 AM

Does snapple green tea count?

IcePrincess81

on Oct 2, 2009 at 2:54 PM

I've drank green tea for several years now. Whenever I got sick I would always add honey & lemon to it. 2 years ago after I was sick I decided to add honey & lemon even when I wasn't sick. Since doing that I have been able to avoid many colds the kids & hubby have had.

Nonmember comment from t

on Oct 18, 2009 at 12:11 AM

i lived in Japan for 10 years, the only way to get the full benefits from green tea is to make it from the tea leaves, do not add sugar. If you do not like the bitterness of it try Chinese Jasmine tea, which is green tea sweetened with jasmine flowers. Or try brown rice tea, which is green tea mixed with brown rice, it is more robust and less bitter. Snapple doesn't taste remotely like green tea, so I doubt it has much real green tea, and has a lot of sugar and fake coloring in it. Yuck!

on Oct 18, 2009 at 12:12 AM

PS careful green tea has loads of caffeine and is a diuretic!