Green tea as Covid-19 remedy not scientifically proven: Experts

KABUL (Pajhwok): Information available on the internet and some news websites advocated that drinking green tea is effective in the treatment of Covid-19 but health experts differ and say on scientific research has proved the assertion.

Claim: Drinking green is effective in the prevention and treatment of Covid-19.

Verdict: Medical experts say green tea effectiveness in Covid-29 treatment has not been proven.

Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences wrote in a report: “Green tea is not different from black tea; green tea is the fresh leaves of the tea plant that reach the consumer without any oxidation process.”

Dr. Samia Sulaimani Mehr said that green tea had substances of anti-cancer such as “Catechin” which is a powerful antioxidant.

She said: “The outcomes of the new research by scientists show that there is a substance in green tea that can prevent the new variant of coronavirus from infecting human cells, it can prevent Covid.”

Recent research shows the most active and main ingredient in green tea is opioid (EGCG), which is an antioxidant and kills radicals. One of the key findings is that EGCG controls the life cycle of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Sada-wa-Sema news website released a report on the results of new research by scientists showing that there was a substance in green tea that could prevent the new type of the Covid-19 virus particularly severe infections.

Also, Tatoor-i-Shahr tweeted: “The new research showed that Japanese are less likely to contract the virus due to the culture of taking frequent fluids during the day and the high use of green tea.”

Views of health experts

Dr. Baz Mohammad Sherzad, former advisor to the Ministry of Public Health, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “During the outbreak of the pandemic, some tea businessmen grabbed the opportunity and flourished their business advocating for the use of green team as effective in treating Covid-19.”

He said no research was conducted in the world to prove that green tea was sufficient in treating Covid-19. He said fresh fruits, vegetables, and physical activities were effective practices against Covid-19 because it improved the body’s immunity.

He added that coronavirus itself had not been fully determined so far and there was no specific treatment for it around the world.

Dr. Hashmatullah Faizi of the Afghan-Japan Hospital told Pajhwok that such rumors had increased on social media but they had no scientific basis.

He said that eating healthy food, vitamins, rest and exercise were the other effective ways to prevent the virus.

Dr. Javed  Hajir, a spokesman for the MoPH, told Pajhwok that green tea was one of the vitamin C substances and sufficient for the body’s immunity.

He added that any food that improved immunity was indirectly effective in fighting the coronavirus, but it could not be used directly as medicine for the disease.

“Green tea can be part of the diet, but cannot be determined as a specific medicine for Covid-19.”

Citizen

Ahmad Rashid Rahmani, a resident of the 15^th police district of Kabul, who graduated from pharmacy, told Pajhwok that he was infected with Covid-19 in the second and third waves.

“When I contracted the virus, I was recommended to drink green tea and also saw it in the social media and then a start drinking green tea but it was not fruitful.”

He urged people to avoid practicing rumors and said at this modern time people should take quality medicine and ignore rumors.

sa/nh

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