There seem to be new products that appear every month bragging about how they will be the key to unlock your own personal fountain of youth. Our culture is obsessed with staying youthful and preventing the effects of age, but what if it's much simpler (and cheaper) than we originally thought?

Tea has not only been connected to health, wisdom, happiness, and general well-being for thousands of years, but research has shown that it also contains some truly amazing anti-aging properties.

Researchers in China found that people who drink more than three cups of tea per day showed five fewer years of wear and tear on their cells than the cells of people who drink less than one cup per day. They believe that the antioxidants in tea help to keep DNA strands strong during cell division, which can help fight off diseases like cancer and diabetes.

Here are additional ways that drinking tea helps promote anti-aging:

• Green tea's high concentrations of EGCG (a potent antioxidant) help fight against free radicals. Free radicals are what can damage DNA, and contribute to the risk of cancer and heart disease.
• EGCG also helps counteract oxidative stress on the brain, which can reduce the risk of neurological disorders that occur with age, such as Alzheimer's.
• We all know that one easy way to prevent skin cell damage (and in turn, wrinkles) is to be diligent about applying sunscreen. But one study by the Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve in Ohio found that drinking green tea may provide additional DNA protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
• Bone density deteriorates with age, which is why it's important to do everything possible to promote bone strength through all phases of life. A study by The Department of Pathology at Texas Tech University showed that rats that were supplemented with polyphenols from green tea showed higher rates of bone mineral density and strength after four months of exposure. This is believed to be a connection to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities of green tea.

Whether you prefer your tea hot or iced, drink up! Just remember to choose a high-quality tea variety, as over-processing can compromise its beneficial components.

Also, be sure to avoid tea with added sugars - you're sweet enough! 

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[Credit: Newcomer,Laura."13 Reasons Tea Is Good for You." TIME.]
[Credit: Edgar, Julie. "Types of Teas and Their Health Benefits." WebMD.]
[Credit: Ficarra, Barbara."Drink Tea, Grow Younger."ShareCare.]