"BETTER TO BE DEPRIVED OF FOOD FOR THREE DAYS, THAN TEA FOR ONE." (ANCIENT CHINESE PROVERB). KATRINA ZASLAVSKY TELLS MORE...

Drinking tea is one of the biggest health trends from the hottest spas, fitness centres and cafes around the country and there is a good reason for it. The funny thing about tea is that it is nothing new.

The Chinese have been drinking it for thousands of years. Only now, western science is discovering what the Chinese already knew - that drinking tea is extremely good for us! Green tea is made from the Camellia Sinensis plant - as is black tea. The difference is that Green Tea is unfermented, which means that it still retains its potent antioxidant properties.

It is the antioxidants called Catechin Polyphenols in green tea that gives them their power, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The University of Kansas in September 1997 found out that EGCG is 100 times more effective than Vitamin C in its antioxident properties. It is also twice as powerful as the antioxidant in red wine, famous for giving the French people license to eat rich fatty foods and croissants and get away with it! It was also discovered that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers!

Green tea can boost the immune system; research by the Pace University found that Green Tea deactivates viruses and research from Harvard has confirmed this, finding that tea chemicals stimulated T-cells that boost immunity against bacteria and viruses.

Scientists are especially excited about the polyphenol's cancer-fighting properties. These potent polyphenols in green tea, fight cancer in at least three different ways. Firstly, they can shut off the formation of carcinogens, secondly they turn up the body's natural detoxification defences and finally they suppress cancer promotion.

Drinking green tea was also shown to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by almost sixty percent in an epidemiological study published in 1994 by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The growth of cancer cells is inhibited by a compound in green tea according to University of Purdue. Not only does it inhibit the growth of tumours, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

More good news... For the weight conscious, drinking tea regularly assists in weight loss. Only a few cups of tea per day have been found to suppress excessive accumulation of body and liver fat. According to a study conducted at the University of Geneva in Switzerland in 1999, published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea helps the body burn more calories, preventing sharp rises in blood sugar. Tea is effective in regulating blood sugar, cholesterol and fat. In addition, researchers have discovered that drinking four to five cups a day might help reduce both high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

A word of caution though, these health benefits are only true for green and black teas, not for the common herbal teas.

The evidence is immense and seems clear - simply replacing ordinary tea or coffee with health-giving teas on a consistent daily basis is a powerful step in the direction of investing in your long-term health and longevity.

So I would like to leave you with this thought: Is your tea of choice just there to taste good and give you warmth and pleasure for the moment or does it actually add real value to your health? The first may last a few moments but the latter can mean you reap the benefits for a lifetime.

Isn't it time you made the switch to green tea?

Katrina Zaslavsky is a proud mum, public health & food safety professional and Director of Inspired Wellness, dedicated to awaken and empower people with unique nutritional and lifestyle solutions to improve their health and well-being. Contact Katrina at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit inspiredwellness.com.au to claim your free subscription to our e-magazine.