As a smoker, I always drink a lot of tea. First time, I was learned
about this from a Japanese friend. Japanese people smoke a lot and
also drink a lot of tea. I am always a light smoker. I asked my
Japanese friend, how come Japanese live so long even though they smoke
so much. He told me- green tea. That was all about the story. After
that without any serious thought, I start drinking a lot of Green tea
and white teas. I had my last full body check-up in January-2004 and
it was 100% positive. Today I received this thread from one of my
friend and want to share with you. he also send me couple more threads
and I will read and post them here one by one with related topics.

REDUCED CIGARETTE SMOKING EFFECTS

Two studies, one by scientists at the Academy of Preventive Medicine
in Beijing, China, and the other by James Klaunig at the Indiana
University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, investigated green
tea's effects on oxidative stress (i.e., an imbalance in the
pro-oxidant/antioxidant status of a cell) due to cigarette smoke
toxins. Oxidative stress appears to cause or be a factor in the
development of certain diseases--notably cancer. When smokers drank an
equivalent of six cups of green tea per day, their bodies suffered 40
to 50 percent less oxidative damage. This potentially lowers their
risk of cancer, emphysema, heart disease and other illnesses. However,
it is important to note that those who drink green tea and continue to
smoke continue to raise their oxidative damage risk. In addition,
nonsmokers also exhibited significant oxidative damage decreases.

I am not encouraging any one for smoking just want to let the smokers
as well as non-smokers to know a fact of green tea. Thanks.

Ripon
Vienna,VA

P.S.- Surgeon General's Warning: Cigarette smoke contains carbon
monoxide-