In modern times, scientific studies have continually confirmed the health potency of tea, in particular, the link between green tea and human cancer. Other ongoing studies have been conducted to establish its connection with cardiovascular diseases, oral health and hygiene, detoxification, and the immune system, among other health issues.

Why is tea a healthful drink?

Tea is rich in antioxidants, and antioxidant nutrients are important to your longevity health.

Free radicals are reactive oxygen molecules that could damage your body and contribute to many diseases, if left unchecked. Your body naturally creates free radicals during the complex process of converting food to energy. Unstable free radicals can steal electrons from other stable molecules, thereby producing a chain reaction of generating more unstable free radicals that can be extremely reactive and damaging to body proteins and fats, in particular the DNA.

Fortunately, antioxidants can effectively arrest free radical reactions, thereby stopping further cell damage.

Tea is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidant nutrients for your body.

In most Asian countries, black tea is the predominant drink. However, green tea has higher levels of polyphenols, compared to black tea. Polyphenols make tea a healthful drink, and for this reason, green tea is gaining popularity worldwide.

For centuries, the Chinese have believed that green tea holds the key to longevity health, duet to its health-preserving and revitalizing ingredients. Western scientists had been skeptical of the health potency of green tea until recently when scientific findings have repeatedly attested to its health benefits.

Polyphenols are phytonutrients, which are naturally occurring compounds in plants to protect them from free radicals, bacteria, parasites, insects and diseases. Apparently, what is good for the plants is also good for the humans.

There are many types of tea, but only one plant. The differences in varieties come from the different processing methods. The three most common tea types are green tea, black tea, and oolong tea.

Green tea is lightly processed, thereby preserving the natural oxidation in the tea leaves. Black tea, as the name suggests, has a darker color and a stronger flavor, is the most popular tea in Asia. However, due to its considerable oxidation processing, it has lost a significant amount of polyphenols in the tea. Oolong tea, also known as the "black dragon" is between green and black tea. Due to its partial auto-oxidation, its taste is stronger than that of green tea but with relatively more polyphenols preserved than in oolong tea.

According to Lu Yu, the famous Chinese tea master of the 7th century, tea could cure common ailments, such as aches and pains, headaches and depression, because it increases blood circulation, stimulates mental responses, detoxifies the body system, brightens the eyes, aids digestion, enhances the immune system, and promotes healthy skin.

Nowadays, with scientific evidence, green tea may protect you from heart diseases because it lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition, the antioxidant properties of green tea may effectively combat cancer-causing agents in your body. Furthermore, the anti-bacterial capabilities of polyphenols are conducive to optimum oral hygiene and health.

Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau