Drinking tea may aid in weight loss. In recent years, the anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic effects of black tea have attracted increasing interest, although the exact reason behind the phenomena remain unclear. In a recent study, researchers found that the flavins present in tea significantly reduced lipid accumulation, suppressed fatty acid synthesis and stimulated fatty acid oxidation, factors that appear to help prevent obesity and related liver damage. (Source; Abstract abr. J Lipid Res. 2007 Aug 24)

A 15 year Swedish study of 61,057 women found that those who drank 2 or more cups of tea per day had a 46% lower risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to non-tea drinkers.

The healthy properties of green tea are largely attributed to polyphenols, chemical with potent antioxidant properties. (Polyphenols also give green tea its slightly bitter character.) In many cases, the antioxidant effects of tea polyphenol appear to be greater than those of Vitamin C. Green tea also contains alkaloids like caffeine, theobromine and theophylline that contribute to its effectiveness as a mild stimulant.

A Health Canada study, published in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology, suggests teas of all kinds may limit cell mutation linked to chronic diseases like cancer.

A recent study by the Canadian Cancer Society found that the consumption of green tea can significantly reduce the risk of the onset of breast cancer.

In Japan, a 10 year study of 8553 men and women who drank at least 10 cups of tea per day, found that women lived 7.3 years longer and men 3.2 years longer than those who drank only 3 cups per day. A subsequent study by noted researcher Hirota Fujiki at Tikushima Bunri University also found that green tea can act as a cancer preventative. (Source; Current Cancer Therapy Reviews 2005, I, 109-114.)

In May 2006, researchers at the Yale School of Medicine theorized that the 1.2 litres of green tea consumed daily by many Asians contributed greatly to the high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants in their diets. Researchers believed these compounds worked to improve cardiovascular health, prevent blood platelets from sticking together and lower cholesterol levels. Speaking of cholesterol, the researchers also found that green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL or "bad" cholesterol, reducing the build up of arterial plaque.

Rosehip is particularly high in Vitamin C, with about 1,700-2,000 mg per 100 g in the dried product. It also contains vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids. Besides being used as a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, dizziness and headaches, it is commonly used externally in oil form to restore firmness to skin by nourishing tissue. (Source; BBC News, June 18, 2007.)

Regular cups of tea can help speed recovery from stress, researchers from the University College London said recently. Men who drank black tea four times a day for 6 weeks were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than a control group who drank a fake tea substitute, the researchers said after a 6 week study of 75 men. The tea drinkers also reported a greater feeling of relaxation after performing tasks designed to raise stress levels. It was not known which ingredients in tea were responsible for the relaxing effects.