Rituals and preparation

For thousands of years, tea drinkers have been enjoying tea for its refreshing flavor and potential medicinal properties. It was not until recently, however, that scientific research revealed the many ways the antioxidants in tea can benefit the body, including protecting the heart and liver and helping the body protect itself against cancer.

Each day you should drink at least one cup of tea. It can be black or green, hot or iced, decaf or not.

Drinking a cup of tea might do more than warm you up this winter. Green tea leaves are less processed than black tea and contain rich sources of antioxidants, which protect the body's cells from damage and fight diseases. The antioxidants in tea have been linked to cancer prevention, decreased risk of stroke, heart diseases, and lowered blood cholesterol.

Recent research suggests that antioxidants in tea play a role in reducing the negative effects of bad cholesterol, lowering triglyceride levels and increasing the production of good cholesterol. They have also been shown to inhibit excessive blood clotting which may help against heart diseases and stroke. Further evidence has suggested that green tea plays a role in prevention of age-related and brain degeneration diseases, such as Parkinson and Alzheimer's.

Antioxidants may also play a key role in the prevention of various cancers, like breast, colon, stomach, and lung cancer. They suppress the formation and growth of potent cancer-causing agents.

Another interesting benefit of green tea is its effectiveness in preventing dental decay. It inhibits the growth of oral bacteria, which can help to fight cavities.

Previous tests prove tea can neutralize germs, including some that cause diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis and skin infections. New research by Milton Schiffenbauer of Pace University finds that black and green tea deactivates viruses, including herpes.

Most surprising, green tea's antioxidant EGCG stimulates the body to burn calories, notably fat. In a Swiss study, a daily dose of 270mg EGCG (the amount in 2 to 3 cups of green tea) caused men to burn 4% more energy - about 80 extra calories a day.