You have probably heard in the news, in magazines, newspapers, etc. that green tea in particular is good for you, but you may not know why or how it is. What is it that is different about green tea than any other tea or beverage or food? What makes green tea such a popular topic when it comes to discussing healthy eating and drinking habits? What is in green tea that makes it a healthy drink? What is all the fuss about?

In this article, I will explain all of the whys and how’s of why and how green tea is good for your body. You'll know why the Chinese and Japanese cultures have been using it as a healthy drink for hundreds of centuries, and why they tend to live longer than those in the Western parts of the world!

Healthy Ingredients of Green Tea:

Antioxidants are the main ingredient that makes green tea so particularly special. According to the dictionary, an antioxidant is either a chemical compound or substance that inhibits oxidation.

For example, these are some of the substances that are antioxidants are:

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Beta Carotene
• And so many More!

These antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation, hence the name, antioxidant. An antioxidant thwarts or slows the breakdown of another material by oxygen, according to www.answers.com. Some antioxidants are added to foods and beverages. These additions include Vitamin C, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHI), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). These are added to put a stop to the foods from getting rotten or from discoloration.

The Effects Antioxidants Have in Your Body:

Antioxidants decrease the amount of free radicals in your body. Free radicals are a byproduct of oxidation reactions in metabolism, according to the dictionary. These free radicals can damage your body in a variety of ways. One way is by damaging the cells in your body. They are also believed to possibly cause a variety of illnesses and diseases.