The benefits of drinking green tea have been studied for years, and it seems that each time they look a little harder, scientists find more benefits to the tasty drink.

What are Antioxidants?

Twenty years ago, scientists determined that people who had a diet low in fruits and vegetables were more likely to develop chronic health conditions such as vision loss and atherosclerosis. At the time they believed that fruits and vegetables contained substances that defended against free radicals. They called these substances antioxidants.

New Views on Antioxidants

Taking antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, phenols, and others as supplements, without ingesting the foods that contain the antioxidants, has proven no more beneficial toward a person's health than simply ingesting the foods that contain them.

Polyphenols: The Exception

Under scrutiny, most antioxidants reveal fundamental flaws that discourage overuse. However, there are a few substances that have been labeled as "antioxidants" that scientists have determined really do fight free radicals. One is the class of antioxidants known as polyphenols. These substances include flavanols known as catechins and are largely found in green tea.

Green tea has been a popular drink-through Asia for hundreds of years, and now scientists know why it continues to be popular among health enthusiasts today.