Green tea is made from the steamed, rolled and dried leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. With this processing, the leaves are not permitted to ferment, as is the case in oolong or black teas. All the antioxidant-laden polyphenols are preserved in full force, making green tea a potent healer as well as a relaxing beverage.
The rates of certain cancers, including pancreatic, rectal, colon, breast, stomach and skin cancer, seem to be lower in people who drink green tea regularly than those who don't. Scientists have focused on the antioxidant epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) as the probable source of this apparent cancer prevention quality. It seems to stop cancer cells from reproducing and inhibits the enzyme urokinase from helping cancer cells grow
Green tea also contains beneficial catechins, powerful flavenoids that may protect against heart disease, lowering LDL cholesterol that can lead to clogged arteries. Green tea also contains fluoride and can help prevent tooth decay.
Note a cup of green tea contains about 40 mg of caffeine. If you need to watch your caffeine intake try green tea supplements, which supply plenty of beneficial polyphenols without much of the stimulant.
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