Theres an old Chinese adage that goes something like this, Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one. Although this is obviously not reliable nutritional information, it still goes to show how integral the tea plant was and still is to the Asian diet.

But can tea, and green tea especially, help someone lose weight? Well, according to a 1999 study conducted at the University of Switzerland in Geneva, yes it can. Researchers discovered that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burnt more calories than the opposing group that was only given caffeine or a placebo. So technically, green does aid in weight loss. But thats not all that green tea is capable of.

Green teas medicinal properties stem largely from a certain polyphenol or antioxidant, called epigallocatechin gallate. Its a mouthful, but this substance is a true workhorse that inhibits the growth of cancer cells as well as lowers ones LDL/VLDL cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels among a host of other things. And according to one Japanese study, those who drank 10 cups or more of green tea showed signs of better liver function. Another Japanese study also demonstrated that the incidence of cerebral hemorrhage and stroke was at least twice as high in those that drank fewer than 5 cups of green tea a day as compared to those that drank greater than or equal to 5 cups of green tea a day.

Aside from drastically lowering incidence of stroke and blood cholesterol levels, increased green tea consumption can also work wonders elsewhere. In a study conducted for the Iowa Womens Health Study, researchers studied the tea drinking habits of over 35,000 postmenopausal women and found that those who drank more than two cups of tea a day were 32% less likely to have cancers of the stomach, esophagus, mouth, colon, and rectum. Furthermore, these same women were also 60% less likely to develop urinary tract cancer.

Lately green tea has also been analyzed for its ability to protect the body against the carcinogenic changes caused by cigarette smoke. But, this doesnt give you a license to smoke like a chimney. So put away the lighter.

Now, although some Chinese teas come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, none are as potent as green tea. The reason is that green tea is processed differently than oolong or black tea. The tea leaves are steamed, so that the epigallocatechin gallate remains intact, whereas in black and oolong tea, the leaves are fermented.

To some, green tea may serve only as a refreshing beverage, but to others, its medicinal properties serve a role similar to that of a multivitamin, as a sort of added life-insurance. These health benefits mentioned in this article are only the tip of the iceberg. So, go ahead, quit stalling, and start brewing a pot. Your body needs a breather.