Substances in green tea known as catechins have been provento be effective against many serious diseases.

In experiments with rats green tea catechin restricts theexcessive buildup of blood cholesterol.

In Japan, where tea is drank several times a day cancermortality statistics on Japanese people indicate that thedeath rate from cancer is significantly lower, for both menand women. Only 254 mg. of catechin begin to showeffective results in the bloodstream. One cup of green teacontains 100 to 150 mg of catechin. In 1998, Chinesescientists presented details of a six-month study suggestingthat drinking green tea improved pre-cancerous oral lesionsin patients.

A study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showedthat consumption of green tea may trigger weight loss bystimulating the body to burn calories and decreasing bodyfat.

Dutch researchers found that women drinking more than 5 cupsdaily had a lower risk of severe arteriosclerosis.

In April 1999, researchers at Case Western ReserveUniversity in Cleveland published a study claiming thatdrinking four or more cups of green tea a day may preventrheumatoid arthritis amongst sufferers.

Green tea can help control diabetes. Experiments show thatan extract of green tea to mice had the ability to lowerblood sugar.

Japanese researchers have determined that catechininactivates the influenza virus. Gargling with green tea isvery effective in preventing influenza.

Doctors at the Aichi Cancer Institute have verified the factthat green tea catechin can inhibit the activity of the AIDSvirus.

Green tea catechin suppresses the process of plaqueformation and destroys the bacteria that forms plaque.Studies showed a reduction in cavities among grade schoolchildren who drank green tea after lunch. Green tea alsokills the bacteria which causes bad breath.

Green tea has been demonstrated to kill seven strains offood poisoning bacteria including staphylococcus,clostridium and botulus. It is a good treatment fordiarrhea.

Green tea can reduce and prevent high blood pressure bypreventing angiotensin II, a substance in the blood, whichcauses constriction of the blood vessels causing high bloodpressure.

By stimulating fat metabolism studies suggest that green teaextract may be useful for improving endurance capacity."

The best way to get the disease-fighting nutrients in tea isto drink it freshly brewed after allowing it to steep forthree to five minutes. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink, and instant teas have less of the healthfulcompounds.

Researchers caution that tea can't be seen as a cure, but itcould be viewed as a vitamin for the immune system.

About the Author:

Marilyn Pokorney Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net - For more information on green tea and many other teas: http://www.apluswriting.net/health/teahealth.htm