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Green tea is now the second most popular beverage in the world. Green tea is said to have many health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol, boosting your immune system and helping to prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme. "We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " said Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC.

Scientists in the United States and Switzerland may have found two more uses for green tea. Studies published in the December 1999 issues of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Urology show that substances which are abundant in green tea extracts may promote weight loss and treat prostatitis, a painful urinary condition.

Green tea may prevent and reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study from CWRU's School of Medicine. Researchers have found that drinking four cups of green tea can prevent the development of rheumatoid arthrititis.

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