Tea leaves come from Camellia sinensis a plant indigenous to China and India. Black tea goes through the most processing, and is oxidized for up to four hours. Green tea and white tea, which is made from the tender, young leaves of the tea plant before they turn color, is never allowed to oxidize after harvesting. Some scientists think that may give them a nutritional edge, since they may contain higher amounts of antioxidants. These substances help protect against cancer and appear to counteract the chronic inflammation that contributes to heart disease, arthritis and other chronic illness.

The Skinny on Green Tea and Weight Loss

Three years ago on the Oprah show, Dr Perricone said “Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar, raise insulin. Insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you get your caffeine, you're all set, but you will drop your insulin levels and body fat will fall very rapidly. So 10 pounds in six weeks, I will guarantee it.” Now, a new study indicates that Dr Perricone may be right. While it may seem unusual to think of green tea as having weight loss properties, there now exists a green tea diet and many people swear by green tea extract as part of their weight loss program.