Good & Bad Health Benefits of Tea Tea is the most consumed beverage on the planet after water. Many cultures, Chinese, Japanese, English, and Indian consume tea on a daily basis. Whether it be white, green, oolong, black or other, The antioxidants in tea, called flavonoids, are largely responsible for tea's health-boosting properties. There is a group of flavonoids called catechins which prevent oxidative damage to cells and give tea the power to reduce a person's risk of several types of cancer, including breast, bladder, skin, lung, colon and esophageal. These catechins are more effective than either vitamin A or C at halting the damage of oxidation, a by-product of normal metabolism. Cardiovascular Benefits Habitual consumption of green and oolong tea significantly reduce the risk of hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor for strokes and heart attacks. The antioxidants in green, black and oolong teas help block the oxidation of LDL