While there are several cures available to boost the immune system, very few readily available remedies come close to tea. In our previous posts, we have discussed how naturally occurring chemicals in tea fight cold, blood sugar, and heart diseases and protect our skin and bones. Apart from these uses, the humble shrub activates our immune system against the deadliest pathogens. As we stated earlier, these remedies have been known to traditional practitioners of medicines. It is now that modern science is unraveling some of its effects.

What makes tea so special?

We come back to the same set of naturally occurring chemicals called flavonoids, as we discussed earlier, which also benefit our immune response to various pathogens. This works in many ways. Drinking four to five cups of tea can trigger an immune response in which cells responsible for immunity are told to recognize and remember alkylamines, chemicals that can inhibit harmful microbes. The presence of L-theanine in tea leaves helps the immune system fight off illnesses such as colds and influenza caused by pathogens. New research shows that L-theanine activates beneficial bacteria in our gut that boost immunity by arresting the advance of pathogens.

On the other hand, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), another set of flavonoids found in tea leaves, bolster and enhance lymphocyte cells’ activities. Lymphocytes are white blood cells found in the bone marrow that destroy any kind of pathogenic or invasive cell. TeaOrb’s spice chai is rich in all the flavonoids and goodness of warming spices that can help boost your immune system.