There are many well-documented health benefits to drinking Green Tea.

Green Tea reportedly helps to soothe rheumatoid arthritis, lowers high cholesterol levels, helps to prevent cariovascular disease, staves off some infections, and now, according to at least one study, it significantly inhibits breast cancer growth in female mice.

The benefits of Green Tea are largely due to a chemical called EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. According to this page at About.com, “EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.”

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi researchers now finds that consuming EGCG significantly inhibits breast tumor growth in female mice.

Green tea is high in the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-3- gallate) which helps prevent the body’s cells from becoming damaged and prematurely aged. Studies have suggested that the combination of green tea and EGCG may also be beneficial by providing protection against certain types of cancers, including breast cancer.

With each passing day, it seems that the good news about green tea continues to pile up. Of course, green tea and other holistic or natural elixirs should not be thought of as a replacement for traditional medicine. However, it seems clear that working green tea into your regular routine not only can’t hurt, but it may help quite a bit, serving as a valuable preventative measure against an array of ailments.