Researchers believe the real secret of green tea lies in the fact that it is rich in EGCG which is a powerful antioxidant. Red wine has been long studied because it contains Resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. Furthermore, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as Resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese and French men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent of them are smokers.

You may be asking if other Chinese teas offer similar health benefits. But the answer is no. Although green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, the way green tea is processed is what sets them apart. Green tea leaves are steamed, and that prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. Black and Oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which converts the EGCG into other compounds. This process makes Oolong and Black teas much less effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

So how much green tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the health properties of green tea. While some companies selling green tea say that ten cups per day are necessary to reap the maximum benefits, a University of California study on the cancer-preventative qualities of green tea concluded that you could probably attain the desired level of polyphenols by drinking two cups a day.

The research of this ancient beverage continues, and it may take decades to unlock all of the secrets it holds. Although green tea should not be considered to be a magic bullet, researchers agree the positive health benefits are very promising.

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