Ancient folklores from Japan and China have long told of the health benefits of tea, most prominent being its ability to prolong life. Many recent clinical studies support these tales. Among the most credible research has shown that tea reduces the risk of heart diseas, stroke, and high cholesterol. Results indicate that habitual tea drinkers have a 44 percent smaller chance of suffering a heart attack than those who do are not. Furthermore, they are more likely to recover. From controlled experiments conducted by the USDA, it is conclusive that consistent tea drinking significanly lowers LDL cholesterol without decreasing the helpful type. Tea has almost no calories, no fat, or sodium. Two cups of tea contain as many flavonoids as a serving of vegetables. Flavonoids, an antioxidant metabeloid found in tealeaves, are shown to make platelets less prone to clotting and counters the artery-damaging potential of highly reactive free radical cells. In a study conducted by Dutch scientists, men who drank more than 4.7 cups of tea a day had a 69% less risk of stroke during 15 years of follow-up. An experiment conducted by Australian researchers showed that mice that were given black tea suffered 54% fewer cancers than mice that were given water when exposed to levels of ultraviolet radiation that the average Australian receives. Cancer rates among Japanese smokers are only half of what they are among smokers in the United States. The rate of stomach cancer is also the lowest in the area of Japan where the most tea is drunk. The Chinese and Japanese who consume tea with their meals is a possible explanation for low cancer rates in these countries. Tea also helps prevent tooth decay in many ways. It contains a significant quantity of fluoride and fights the kinds of bacteria in the mouth that lead to gum disease and eventual loss of teeth. It also kills the greatest cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, Streptococcus mutans. These amazing health discoveries as well as renewed interest in its ancient heritage, has made tea an ever more popular drink nowadays.