cup of tea anyone

SCIENTISTS are hoping to fight the deadly hospital superbug C.diff — with cups of TEA.



Tests have shown that chemicals in tea leaves can destroy the bug, which kills 3,000 people a year.

Now researchers want to develop an antibacterial “supertea”. It would be given to patients to ward off C.diff, which is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Docs found chemicals called polyphenols, which give a cuppa its flavour, fight off the bacteria.

The Cardiff University team exposed 79 strains of C.diff — clostridium difficile — to 33 types of tea to see which proved best. Prof Les Baillie, who has been studying the disease-fighting properties of the humble cuppa since 2008, said green tea appeared to have a stronger impact than black tea in tests.

C.diff
Battle ... deadly superbug C.diff
The drink is already known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Prof Baillie said: “We had done some preliminary work on standard breakfast tea and found that it kills bacteria.

“It evolved that clostridium difficile is also vulnerable to tea as it is a gut-based disease.” Researcher Will McCully added: “Tea is one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world — and in the UK we drink more cups per head than in any other nation.

“This summer we will try to produce an antibacterial supertea.

“The ultimate aim is to produce a drink that will be clinically effective against C.diff.”

SCIENTISTS are hoping to fight the deadly hospital superbug C.diff — with cups of TEA.



Tests have shown that chemicals in tea leaves can destroy the bug, which kills 3,000 people a year.

Now researchers want to develop an antibacterial “supertea”. It would be given to patients to ward off C.diff, which is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

Docs found chemicals called polyphenols, which give a cuppa its flavour, fight off the bacteria.

The Cardiff University team exposed 79 strains of C.diff — clostridium difficile — to 33 types of tea to see which proved best. Prof Les Baillie, who has been studying the disease-fighting properties of the humble cuppa since 2008, said green tea appeared to have a stronger impact than black tea in tests.

C.diff
Battle ... deadly superbug C.diff
The drink is already known to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Prof Baillie said: “We had done some preliminary work on standard breakfast tea and found that it kills bacteria.

“It evolved that clostridium difficile is also vulnerable to tea as it is a gut-based disease.” Researcher Will McCully added: “Tea is one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world — and in the UK we drink more cups per head than in any other nation.

“This summer we will try to produce an antibacterial supertea.

“The ultimate aim is to produce a drink that will be clinically effective against C.diff.”

Stirrer!

I'm glad I drink about 5-7 cups of tea a day.