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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.
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