Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a shrub that is native to India and East Asia. Black and Green both types of teas are made from the same plant but the color of end product depends on the process. Tea leaves are withered, rolled and heated to produce final product. Black tea is produced by adding one extra step of fermentation before final heating process. Herbal teas are not derived from Camellia Sinensis, but from the leaves, bark, roots, seeds and flowers of other plants. One herbal tea can be very different from another based on the ingredients.

Most of us already know that tea contains Caffeine which is considered bad in general, but does it contains anything else that makes it very attractive for health conscious individual? Answer is "Yes". Tea contains antioxidants.

Now what are antioxidants? As you can tell by the name itself, antioxidants are molecules that prevent or slow down the oxidation process of other chemicals. All living organisms in nature maintain a certain level or antioxidants in their body. It is critical for life. Most plants and animals maintain a complex system of antioxidants that includes vitamin C, vitamin E, catalase and peroxidases. Low level of antioxidants can cause a condition known as "oxidative stress" and may kill cells. The detoxifying effect of these antioxidants protects cells from free radicals, the damage that can lead to blood clot formation, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Various studies have linked higher level of antioxidants to better health and lower rate of heart disease and cancer

Green and black teas have 10 times the amount of antioxidants found in fruits and veggies, by one estimate. In fact one cup of black tea contains more antioxidants than 5 glasses of apple juice or 3 glasses of orange juice. Tea leaves are rich in polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant. These wonder nutrients scavenge for cell-damaging free radicals in the body and detoxify them. Black and green both have different types of antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. Thearubigins, epicatechins, and catechins are among those listed in a USDA chart. All are considered flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. Herbal teas may also contain antioxidants but less is known about them.

If we study the world's big tea drinkers, like India, Japan and China. They have much less heart disease and don't have certain cancers that we in the Western world suffer. The bulk of research shows that regular tea drinkers, people who drink two cups or more a day, have less heart disease and stroke, lower total and LDL (often called "bad") cholesterol, and that they recover from heart attacks faster.

Some laboratory tests also show that black and green tea may help boost metabolism to aid weight loss, block allergic response, slow the growth of tumors, protect bones, fight bad breath, improve skin, protect against Parkinson's disease, and even delay the onset of diabetes.

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in anti-oxidants such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet.

In a 1997 study, 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 men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

Here is some more information from Lipton about the health benefits of tea drinking.

1. Drinking tea rapidly revives you, giving your body and mind a gentle lift. This can help focus your mind on the task at hand. In fact, scientific studies have shown that when people drink tea throughout the day, their mood and performance remains at a constant high level.

2. Natural components of tea leave such as fluoride and flavonoids may help maintain good oral health. So drink a cup of unsweetened tea each day for a happy smile!

3. Tea contributes to the overall hydration of body, which is important for maintaining healthier-looking skin.

4. As part of the health life-style, regular tea drinking may help maintain a healthy heart. Clinical studies have shown that tea flavonoids may promote good heart health by improving endothelial function, the working of the inner lining of all blood cells such as arteries and veins.

5. Early research suggests that tea may help support the health immune system. Theanine, an amino acid found in tea, activates the cell involved in the "first line of defense" in the immune system. The first line of defense is important in helping maintain health by reducing the risk of infection.

6. Tea, when served without milk or sugar contains virtually no calories, making it an ideal choice for a healthy weight control plan. Some early research suggests that tea may increase metabolism and rate of fat breakdown but more research is needed.

All this research seems to suggest that if you want to do something good for yourself, drink tea. "It has no calories and lots of polyphenols. If you're drinking tea, you're not drinking soda -- that's a real benefit.