Green Tea: Ancient Drink Focus of Modern Research

More than 4,000 years ago, Chinese healers praised green tea as a wholesome, invigorating drink. Now UA researchers may prove it is that and much more. Iman Hakim in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, oversees two studies to test whether green tea can prevent or slow the development of lung cancer in former cigarette smokers. Early research suggests that drinking four cups of green tea daily was associated with a 30 percent decrease in DNA damage. She also is exploring whether taking capsules of green tea extract is as effective as drinking the beverage.