Tea in Health and Disease

<p>Tea made from the leaves of the Camellia senenisis plant is the second most consumed beverage worldwide after water. Accumulating evidence from cellular animal epidemiological and clinical studies have linked tea consumption to various health benefits such as chemoprevention of cancers chronic inflammation heart and liver diseases diabetes neurodegenerative diseases etc. Although such health benefits have not been consistently observed in some intervention trials positive results from clinical trials have provided direct evidence supporting the cancer-protective effect of green tea. In addition numerous mechanisms of action have been suggested to contribute to tea’s disease-preventive effects. Furthermore effects of the processing and storage of tea as well as additives on tea’s properties have been investigated.</p>