To reap the health benefits of tea you need to drink three cups a day, according to Simon Gibbons, Professor of Phytochemistry at the University of London School of Pharmacy. He suggests drinking one cup in the morning, one at midday and one in the evening. 'You must leave the tea (whether a bag or leaf) to steep for at least five minutes to allow the hot water to extract the plant material,' he says.

　来自伦敦学派大学药房的教授经过研究认为，如果早、中、晚每日都饮茶，可以变得更健康，特别是泡茶的时候，泡茶的时间至少要到5分钟以上，可以使得茶叶中提取物更容易被吸收。

　CUTS STROKE RISK

　　减少中风的危险

　　A 15-year study in the Netherlands found a strong link between regular consumption of tea made with black tea leaves drunk without milk and reduced risk of stroke. Researchers concluded that the flavonoids (nutrients with anti-oxidant properties) found in high concentrations in black tea helped reduce the production of LDL, the 'bad' cholesterol that can cause arteries to narrow, increasing the chance of stroke or heart attack.

　　一项在荷兰为其15年的实验调查证明，单纯喝“不加奶的红茶”可以大大减少患中风的危险。 研究者总结，在红茶中“黄酮类”物质（一种具有抗氧化功能的营养素）含量很高，可以大大降低低密度脂蛋白，喝红茶有利健康，因为有害的胆固醇可以使得动脉血管萎缩，使得患高血压、心脏病的风险大大增加。

　　AIDS DIGESTION

　　帮助消化

　　Green tea - made from unprocessed tea leaves - helps keep your digestive system regular. It can also help with weight loss: green tea has been found to block the absorption of bad fats by up to 30 per cent. Peppermint tea is also beneficial. Herbalist Sebastian Pole, of Pukka Herbs, explains: 'The essential oils in mint help to relax tension in the digestive system to help you digest your food better.' They prevent the intestinal muscles from cramping and allow digestive gases to pass easily.

　　在外国，绿茶指的是不经加工的茶叶。喝绿茶可以使得消化系统更好的运转，身体过于肥胖的人饮用绿茶有减肥的效果，因为饮用绿茶可以“抑制”脂肪吸收达到30%。此外，饮用薄荷茶对健康也很有益处，有中草药专家称：“在薄荷中含有的精油成分可以大大舒缓消化系统的紧张程度，此外，它可以防止肠道肌肉紧张蠕动，使得肠道胀气程度缓解。”


　　BRAIN FUNCTION

　　大脑机能

　　Black tea can help you concentrate. A study at the University of Northumbria found that caffeine and L-theanine in black tea leaves improves cognitive skills. In a test, those who drank two cups performed better than those who drank placebo tea.

　　饮用红茶可以帮助您的注意力得到集中，因为红茶里面的咖啡因以及茶氨酸可以改善大脑的认知功能。来自诺森比亚大学的专家进行的实验证实，那些每日饮用2杯红茶的民众比“安慰剂茶”的民众肠道系统运行更健康。

　　ANTI-CANCER

　　抗癌效果

　　Tea contains polyphenols, antioxidants that can stop cancer cells growing. Tea has about eight to ten times the polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables. Green tea is especially high in polyphenols.A recent study in Taiwan found that drinking one cup of green tea a day can reduce the risk of lung cancer, particularly for those carrying a certain gene. It is also thought to slow the progress of prostate cancer and to reduce the risk of stomach cancer.

　　茶叶中富含多酚、以及抗氧化剂等元素，这些成分都能抑制癌细胞的增长。此外，相对普通的蔬菜和水果，茶叶具有的“多酚”含量比较多，是普通蔬果的8到10倍，而“绿茶”是茶叶中多酚含量最高的。一项来自台湾的研究表明，每日饮用一杯绿茶可以减少患肺癌的风险，特别是对于身体中有癌细胞的人抑制效果更为显著。此外，饮用绿茶可以降低前列腺癌的的进展，减少患胃癌的风险。