Green Tea is today's Wonder Drink!

For centuries, the Chinese and the Japanese have sipped green tea. And studies have shown that generally, they are probably among the healthiest peoples in the world.

Now, Americans are catching on to one of the most popular beverages in the world.

Studies are adding up and researchers are backing the idea that green tea could protect people from Alzheimer's disease, cancer, high cholesterol and obesity.

Registered dietician Cynthia Sass says green tea works because it is not fermented, or dried out, so antioxidants are preserved.

"Antioxidants are really like little bodyguards inside your body that protect your cells from disease," Sass said.

There are so many options now, making the process of choosing the right green tea to buy more confusing. Sass, however, says green tea you brew yourself is the most beneficial. The flavored teas are fine, too, but she says avoid ones that add extra antioxidants or herbs.

"We really don't know the safety of adding these in a supplemental form," she said.

The taste may not be your cup of tea but Sass says bypassing the taste factor with a pill is not the answer.

"There's really no guarantee of quality there," she said. "There's no guarantee that what's in the pill is really what it says."

Green tea is different from other teas because it is not fermented or dried out, thus keeping the powerful antioxidants normally lost in the fermenting process in the drink. Registered Dietician and ADA spokesperson, Cynthia Sass says.


There's a lot of buzz about green tea because more and more studies are showing the health benefits of drinking green tea. Some of the health benefits of green tea include:

improving your immune system;
guarding against flu virus;
lowering cholesterol;
helping prevent cavities and tooth decay;
slowing the aging process;
reducing risk of cancer;
aiding in weight-loss by burning calories;
reducing high blood pressure;
preventing arthritis;
reducing risk of heart disease, and
reducing risk of stroke.


The latest research also finds an ingredient in green tea that fights cancer may also help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease. Some of the research has been done in humans, while other studies are only at the animal stage, but it seems clear green tea is a healthy choice. Sass warns though that green tea is part of a healthy lifestyle and does not equal a healthy lifestyle.

She says: "You can't eat poorly, not get exercise, and think it's going to help you prevent all these diseases. But it really could be a powerful thing we can do to add to all the other things that we know about disease prevention."