‘An inexpensive way to protect yourself’: Could these foods help fight COVID-19?

CHARLOTTE — There is a coronavirus vaccine on the horizon, but many people may have to wait a while to get it.

In the meantime, doctors and scientists are still looking for other ways to help prevent people from getting COVID-19 before they are vaccinated.

Green tea can “bind to and block the function of a particular enzyme or protease,” in the coronavirus and slow down its replication, according to Dr. De-Yu Xie, professor of plant and microbial biology at North Carolina State University.

“Proteases are important to the health and viability of cells and viruses,” Xie said in the study

>> Read more about the study here.

Ann Jacks has been in the natural health field for 30 years

“I think it’s great,” Jacks said. “I think it’s very promising. I think it’s a very inexpensive way to protect yourself.”

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Jacks said since the pandemic started, there has been a flood of customers at Berrybrook Farm in Charlotte, looking for natural ways to boost their immune system.

“I wish I would have known when the study was coming out, so we could have stocked more green tea,” Jacks said.

Green tea is not a cure for COVID-19, but customers still enjoy what it offers the body.

“I’m a big tea drinker, so I’d be willing to try anything to stay healthy, and I know green tea has so many health benefits. So I really don’t doubt it,” Jacks said.

Researchers said other foods that have compounds that could block key COVID-19 enzymes are muscadine grapes and dark chocolate.

There are no guarantees green tea or any other food will protect people from COVID-19, but doctors said the research is promising.

People under 40 should assume they became infected with COVID over holiday, White House report says

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