Numerous studies have shown that green tea has anti-ageing properties and speeds up one's metabolism. My Chinese auntie used to always tell my sisters and ME that:

’Drinking jasmine tea at every meal not only makes you slim, it's also good for your skin!‘

Many of our regular Choi Time tea drinkers have found it to be not only calming and delicious, but a great hangover cure too.

As reported in various press:

Prestige Magazine, ‘Out of the brew’: Reading the leaves
p.48 Isadora Wai July 2005

Recent medical research has found regular tea consumption to reduce the risk, slow the development of, and/or reduce the symptoms of major illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, and stroke.

Researchers at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital credit much of tea’s therapeutic effects to an ingredient called L–theanine. Significantly, this substance is not found in herbal teas – properly called ’infusions’– since they don’t contain Camellia sinensis, the true tea plant.

The cancer fighting potential of one class of flavonoid, the catechins, has led these to become the focus of a widespread study. Tea is the best-known source of catechins, with three times the quantity in green tea than in black. What’s more, nature’s most potent antioxidant, epigallocatechins gallet (EGCG), is also present in high concentrations in green tea. ECGCG is believed to be 25 times more effective than vitamin C, at protecting cells and DNA from damaging free radicals.

But the story doesn’t end there. Tea is known to aid digestion, the leaves’ essential oils stimulate the flow of digestive juices. It contains fluoride, which together with flavonoids, enhances bone strength. And there’s good news for the weight-watchers among us: researchers have found that green–tea drinkers burn a surplus 70 calories a day, Once again, this benefit has been put down to the plant’s catechins which also work to enhance metabolism.

The Daily Telegraph-’Super Foods This Week: green tea’ Weekend
p. 004 11th February 2006, Judith Woods

Green tea has special health-giving properties because of the way it is processed....Green tea prevents cancer on a number of fronts: by protecting against damage to DNA, the trigger for cancer, and by shutting down a key molecule in the body that plays a significant role in the development of cancer. ...... Green tea also repairs damage to livers caused by alcohol, protects against diseases such as Parkinson’s and rheumatoid arthritis, and restricts the build-up of cholesterol in the blood.

Edmonton Journal Toronto- Eat Better to look beautiful: Nutritionists appeal to vanity to make their point’ Sec Body & Health p. A17 18th January 2006

Trade your coffee (can take energy away from digestion) for green tea (source of cell-protecting antioxidants; boosts metabolism; offers sun protection)

Daily Mail- ’Bags of Goodness’ Charlotte Harding & Kate Maxwell 17th January 2006

The proof: green tea has half the caffeine of black tea and research suggests it is also higher in antioxidants. The university of Newcastle’s Medicinal Plant Research Centre found that green tea inhibited the activity of enzymes connected with Alzheimer’s. Green tea is also a rare dietary source of vitamin K, which is linked with strong bones.

News of the World-’Green tea boosts metabolism; Detox special; Health news p. 33 15th January 2006

Green tea boosts metabolism, burns up to 70 extra calories a day and kills free radicals, Geneva University found.

South China Morning Post- ’Green Tea has cancer on the run‘ Saturday 20th March 2005, Reuters in London

Spanish and British scientists have discovered how green tea helps to prevent certain types of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain and the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme.

Daily Mail, ’Why Herbal Tea is really is hot stuff’ Rachel Kaufman 11th January 2005

For centuries green tea has been hailed as a wonder drink, and science has recently been unravelling its mysteries. Green tea can help maintain health because it’s so rich in antioxidants.

A regular intake of green or white tea can also accelerate weight loss. Clinical studies conducted by Abdul Dullo, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland concluded that green tea raised metabolic rates and speeded up fat oxidation by up to 4 per cent.

Daily Star, What’s In & What’s Out- 26th January 2005

’Green Tea: All the hydrating properties of water plus it’s packed full of antioxidants to help keep those wrinkles at bay.’

Daily Mail, ’Why is green tea so healthy?‘ Amy Anderson 16th September 2003

‘Green tea helps burn fat. It speeds up the metabolic rate because its antioxidant effect helps the liver to function more efficiently. A recent U.S. study of overweight men found that, with no other changes to their diet or exercise regimes, drinking g reen tea three times a day burned up 200 extra calories a day. The green tea drinkers also found that their energy levels were greatly increased.

Green tea protects against heart disease - because it’s potent antioxidant effects inhibit the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the arteries. Green tea can help lower blood pressure it can help protect against diabetes.

Green tea can prevent bad breath- green tea is a natural anti-bacterial agent.

Green tea can protect against Alzheimer’s disease- A recent two-year study of a group of people aged 80 and over found that 96% of those who drank ten cups of green tea a day showed no signs of cognitive impairment, compared to only 12% who didn't drink green tea».