You can blow the whistle on "brain attacks" by turning on your teapot.

That’s right. If you’ve got green tea brewing in there, it's one celestial seasoning that can extend your earthly stay. If you drink enough, you just might lower your risk of dying from a stroke by up to 42 percent!

Holy Teacup, Batman
In a large study of women, those who sipped at least five cups of green tea a day had a 42 percent lower risk of death due to stroke, compared with women who drank less than one cup a day. Other research shows that just two 8-ounce cups of tea daily can dramatically reduce the risk of dying from heart disease -- most likely because of the artery-friendly polyphenols in tea. Check your artery health with this quick quiz.

Here’s to Life
So raise your mug -- and celebrate these additional benefits of drinking green tea:

• Great skin. Here’s how green tea rejuvenates skin cells.
• Healthy joints. You've heard of a green thumb. But how about green knees?
• A trim waistline. Find out how much more fat you’ll burn if you drink green tea.
• A smart brain. Drink this many cups to stay sharp.

Recipe Corner
Easy, refreshing, and good-for-you . . . make this sparkly, fruity beverage: Green Tea and Mango Splash.