Green Tea's Role in Cancer Prevention

Green tea has recently caught the attention ofhigher concentration of the drugs in patients who
scientists working to discover ways to preventwere given green tea as an adjunct therapy than
and treat cancer. Researchers began looking atin patients who received chemotherapy alone.
green tea because of the significantly lower ratesOther research has shown that green tea may
of certain diseases in Asian culture, where greenalso be effective when applied topically; preventing
tea is widely consumed. Tea is the mostand treating skin cancer, for example.
consumed beverage in the world, after water; soGreen tea has also been shown to prevent
if we can harness health properties in thiscardiovascular disease by helping to prevent the
beverage, it could have huge impact on our health.oxidation of cholesterol. Bad cholesterol (LDL
And, if we can determine exactly how green teacholesterol) oxidizes and becomes the hard plaque
is effective in preventing cancer, we'll be well onthat clogs our arteries, restricting blood flow.
our way to eradicating one of the most seriousWhen arterial flow is restricted, a heart attack or
killers in our society. There has been a largestroke can happen if a blood clot forms and
amount of research on the subject, and we havefurther blocks the artery. Green tea prevents the
learned many things.oxidation of the cholesterol so that it cannot
First, we know that green tea has some of theharden and stick to arterial walls.
most powerful anti-oxidants, and we know thatIn cultures where green tea is consumed, and
anti-oxidants are important to preventing manyincidence of cancer is significantly lower, it is
diseases, including cancer. Anti- oxidants areconsumed in fairly large quantities over a period
important because they combat free radicals inof many years. Asians typically begin consuming
our bodies. These free radicals are created as ourgreen tea early in life, and drink several cups a
bodies convert food to energy. If they are notday every day for their entire life. Green tea is
neutralized, they damage our cells and DNA,even more prevalent in Asian life than coffee is in
leading to disease and premature aging.American life. There are even ceremonies
So, to prevent your risk of cancer, along withcentered on tea!
other diseases, doctors recommend a diet high inSo, if you want to make the most of green tea's
anti-oxidants. And, green tea is one of the bestcancer preventing properties, you should find a
components of a disease preventing diet, becauseway to get a fairly large dose - and you should
it is rich in anti-oxidants and is simple to add toget your dosage each day. This is easier today
our diets.than ever, because green tea has gained
There have been many studies that link green teapopularity and is more widely available than ever.
with cancer prevention. One article available on theGreen tea is often mixed with fruit flavors, as
subject was published by the UK Tea Council. Thismany people don't particularly enjoy the grassy
article discusses the many ways that green teaflavor of the plain tea. And, these flavored
may be helpful in preventing, and even treating,varieties are just as healthy. For a real health
cancer. It also discusses the wide availability ofboost, try green tea flavored with blueberry or
green tea and green tea supplements This articlepomegranate, both of which are also very high in
leads to the conclusion that green tea is effectiveanti-oxidants.
at preventing many forms of cancer.Green tea has also become widely available
It is truly amazing to read the research aboutalready bottled for drinking chilled. This makes it
green tea and cancer. It has been shown, invery convenient to carry your green tea with
particular to have great significance in preventingyou, so that you can drink it all day long, just like
cancers of the digestive system, for example.the Japanese!
It is believed that since the tea itself passesIf you still don't think you can get enough green
through the digestive tract, it minimizestea even with all the choices available, then green
inflammation in this area of the body. In addition,tea supplements might be for you. They're
since this is where the anti-oxidants are absorbed,available in capsule form, and you can just take
it is found to have a significant effect.them right along with your vitamins. They contain
Green tea has also been found to be particularlyall the anti-oxidants of a cup of green tea, right in
effective in preventing, and even treating, breasta little pill.
cancer. In fact, one study reported that greenWhatever form you choose, make green tea a
tea, when administered along with chemotherapy,part of your regular life. It's healthy and delicious
enhanced the effectiveness of the chemotherapyand may prevent many diseases, too!
drugs. It was found that cancer cells showed a