Why are interferons necessary to keep the body healthy?

Considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the Cuban biotechnology boom, this anti-viral drug called Interferon Alfa-2B is produced in China, by Cuban-Chinese joint venture ChangHeber.

The drug has reportedly been effective in the treatment of HIV, human papillomavirus, Hepatitis B and C, and cancer and in the treatment of viruses that show characteristics similar to the novel coronavirus.

Cuba has already sent an emergency assembly of doctors to fight the coronavirus in Italy, while already working alongside 37 countries worldwide that have confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“The use of Interferon Alpha-2B recombinant prevents aggravation and complications in patients reaching that stage that ultimately can result in death," states Cuban biotech expert Luis Herrera Martinez.

The World Health Organization is studying interferon-beta to determine their effectiveness against the new coronavirus.

What are interferons?

Interferons are proteins that are already a part of our body’s natural defense systems. These proteins derive their name from the word ‘interfere’’ due to them interfering with viruses and preventing them from multiplying.

Green Tea natural source of interferons.

The component L-theanine (found in Green Tea) is broken down in the liver to create ethylamine, a molecule that initiates the response of an immune system element called the gamma-delta T cell. The T cells in the blood prompt the release of interferon, a key part of the body's chemical defense against many types of bacteria, viral, fungal and parasitic infections.

An experiment using human volunteers showed that immune system blood cells from tea drinkers responded five times faster than the others.

How many cups of Green Tea a day?

Immunologists at Harvard University discovered that people who drank five cups of green tea a day for 2 weeks, transformed their immune system T cells into "Hulk cells" that pumped out 10 times more cold and flu virus-fighting interferon — proteins that defend against infection — than did the immune systems of those who didn't drink green tea.

"Not just the common cold and flu, but food poisoning, infected cuts, athlete's foot — even diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria — are all caused by germs that your body fights with interferon. We think the interferon boosts from tea may help prevent or lessen the severity of all these conditions," says Dr. Jack Bukowski of the Harvard Medical School. "And the interferon link may explain tea's other health benefits, including its reported cancer-fighting power since we already know that interferon slows the growth of tumor cells.”

Five cups a day is a good addition to the routine, to maintain something as priceless as our health.