WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday strongly warns four medications, extensively used to treat arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying, these can increase the risk of possible lethal fungal infections.

The drugs include Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia, act by putting down the immunity system to keep it from attacking the body. The treatment provides relief from painful and swollen joints in patients of rheumatoid arthritis, but it’s “a double-edged sword,” said the FDA’s Dr. Jeffrey Siegel, because these drugs also weaken the body’s defense to multiple infections.

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New research claims that drinking tea may find health beneficial. Black, oolong, green or white teas have a common source. All teas are produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. The leaves are loaded with flavonoids and other polyphenols that work as antioxidants, possibly lowering the risk of some diseases.

Green tea, which originates in China but is now consumed all over the world, is made with pure leaves, and has undergone little oxidization during processing. Polyphenol content of green tea has antioxidant property that can help to prevent cancer.

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