Here are just a few known health benefits of drinking green tea:
The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Green Tea may help:
impaired immune functio
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
There are four primary polyphenols in green tea and they are often collectively referred to as catechins.Powerful antioxidants, catechins have been shown in recent studies to fight viruses, slow aging, and have a beneficial effect on health. Clinical tests have shown that catechins destroy free radicals and have far-reaching positive effects on the entire body.
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules and fragments of molecules that can damage the body at the cellular level leaving the body susceptible to cancer, heart disease, and many other degenerative diseases.
Green tea antioxidants have been shown to lower cholesterol

For centuries green tea has been recognized in Asia for its role in a healthy
lifestyle. Over the last several years, scientists may have discovered why
green tea has received so much positive attention. Several recent studies have
identified some potentially powerful antioxidants in green tea. One of the
antioxidants, known as EGCG, is found only in green tea leaves and is one of
the most potent antioxidants yet discovered. Researchers theorize that
antioxidants contribute to good health by neutralizing free radicals. No wonder
the Emperor Shen Nung proclaimed green tea to be `heaven sent.'