Simple trick to slash your risk of flu by 87%

The next time those around you start sniffling and sneezing, try gargling with green or black tea—it can protect you from the flu, suggest researchers reporting in the journal BMC Public Health. In their review of data from 1,890 adults, they found that people who gargled with tea were up to 87 percent less likely to become infected with the flu than those who didn’t gargle. According to the study authors, tea contains helpful antiviral compounds (called catechins) that kill off infectious germs. To get the benefits, brew tea as you normally would; let the liquid cool, then gargle for 30 seconds once a day.