Although the oxygen we breath is vital to life, it is also incorporated into very reactive substances called free radicals which are harmful to our bodies. Free radicals cause damage to the components of our cells and have been implicated in the slow chain reaction of damage leading to heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants in our diet help to prevent and repair the damage caused by free radical attack.
   
   Tea (both green and black) is also a rich source of antioxidants called flavanoids. There is a growing body of evidence which confirms that those flavanoids play an important role in protecting us from heart disease and cancer.
   
   Many researchers now believe that free radicals may be the prime reason for why we age. By being able to neutralize free radicals, scientists hope to slow the aging process. Green tea's extraordinary antioxidant powers may actually help to fight aging.