Beneficial Effect of Tea on Human Health

Tea, with its 5,000-year history, is one of the most popular beverages in the world. According to various estimates, over 4 billion people consume tea. This number has increased in recent years due to the widespread marketing of cold tea-based beverages. During the first millennium tea was primarily considered to be medicine rather than an ordinary drink. Over the last few years a large number of epidemiological studies have conclusively proven that tea is beneficial for people with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Tea catechins are included in numerous dietary supplements and medicinal products. This review summarizes scientific information related to the effects of tea on human health which have been published in the last decade.