Green tea or Black tea?

Both have antioxidants, both are good for fighting cancer, both are better than milk tea. "Until recently, tea research has focused on green tea. Green tea is loaded with the compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a powerful anti-oxidant. Since th e fermentation process used to make black tea converts EGCg into other compounds , researchers assumed black tea had less health benefits than green tea. However , recent studies indicate the compounds contained in black tea - theaflavins and thearubigens - do more than contribute to its dark color and distinctive flavor . They also provide health benefits originally attributed solely to green tea. It's important to remember that tea research is still in the early stages. Jane Higden, a research associate with the Linus Pauling Institute, states in a recen t article: "although numerous observational studies have examined the relationsh ips between tea consumption and the risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer, there is no conclusive evidence that high intakes of tea are protective in human s." Still, it looks like there is no need to worry about depriving yourself of p ossible health benefits if black tea is your beverage of choice. Here are the results of research into black tea: Black Tea Research A long-term study by the Netherlands National Institute of Public Health and the Environment found a correlation between regular consumption of black tea an d reduced risk of stroke. Researchers looked at data from a study examining the health benefits of foods that are high in flavonoids - phytonutrients with antio xidant benefits. While some of the flavonoids were obtained from fruits and vege tables, seventy percent came from black tea. The study looked at 552 men over a 15 year period. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids in black tea helped re duce the production of LDL - the "bad" cholesterol that can lead to stroke and h eart attacks. Furthermore, men who drank over four cups of black tea per day had a significantly lower risk of stroke than men who drank only two to three cups per day. A separate study by Dr. Joseph Vita at Boston's School of Medicine supported these results. For four months, sixty-six men drank four cups of either black t ea or a placebo daily. Dr. Vita concluded that drinking black tea can help rever se an abnormal functioning of the blood vessels that can contribute to stroke or heart attack. Furthermore, improvement in the functioning of the blood vessels was visible within two hours of drinking just one cup of black tea. Finally, a study of over 3,000 adults in Saudi Arabia - where black tea is f avored over green - found that regular consumption of the dark brew can reduce t he risk of coronary heart disease by fifty percent." Source: http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa021103a.htm