Green tea contains high concentrations of antioxidants that have known protective effects.
Green tea has received a lot of attention lately, as scientists begin to identify its benefits in warding off heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other illnesses. Two new studies published in December 1999 add to the growing evidence that green tea is more than just a tasty beverage. Consumption of green tea produced thermogenesis and increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans. A study by Erba and colleagues, published in the Journal of Nutrition , evaluated the effect of green tea compounds on oxidative damage caused by iron treatment in cultured human leukemia cells. Results showed that green tea protects cells from injury.