| Today, cancer is the second leading cause of | | | | Therefore, even in patients who have already |
| death in the United States and its incidence has | | | | been diagnosed with cancer, green tea may be |
| risen dramatically over the last 50 years. This | | | | helpful, because it may prevent the cancer from |
| leads scientists to the conclusion that our lifestyle | | | | spreading. |
| and environment must play an important role in | | | | Other studies have also shown that green tea can |
| whether or not we develop cancer. | | | | be an effective adjunct therapy for cancer, not |
| There is still much more to learn about the | | | | only because it appears to inhibit the spread of |
| factors that influence cancer development, but in | | | | cancer, but also because it makes traditional |
| the meantime, we should take to heart the things | | | | therapies more effective. One study showed that |
| that we know cause cancer, and those that we | | | | when mice were given green tea in conjunction |
| believe can prevent it. Here are some things you | | | | with chemotherapy, the chemotherapy drugs |
| can do to reduce your risk. | | | | invaded the cancer cells in higher concentration |
| The first is eating a healthy diet, rich in fruits and | | | | than when the chemotherapy was administered |
| vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in | | | | alone. |
| anti-oxidants, which can prevent cancer and other | | | | Another recent study of breast cancer patients in |
| diseases. Anti-oxidants are very effective at | | | | stages one and two showed a significantly lower |
| combating free radicals that are created in our | | | | rate of cancer recurrence when the patients |
| bodies as we process food. We can't stop these | | | | were given large doses of green tea. |
| free radicals from occurring, but we can combat | | | | Making Green Tea Part of Your Life |
| them with anti-oxidants. If we don't combat them | | | | If you'd like to add green tea to your diet for its |
| they cause damage to our cells and DNA, and this | | | | health effects, many doctors recommend that |
| is what leads to premature aging and disease. | | | | you start with about three cups per day. |
| If you want to significantly increase the | | | | Experiment with the many flavors of green tea |
| anti-oxidant level in your diet, pay special attention | | | | that are on the market, or stick with the |
| to the foods that can give you the most value. | | | | traditional green tea so popular in Asian |
| Get your fair share of artichokes, red beans, | | | | restaurants. Either will have the health benefits - |
| blueberries, pomegranates, tomatoes and green | | | | hot or iced. |
| tea. Yes, that's right - green tea. | | | | While most American doctors recommend that |
| In fact, in terms of dietary changes to help | | | | you begin with 3 cups of green tea per day, you |
| prevent cancer, green tea may be the very best | | | | should know that in Asian cultures most people |
| thing you can add to your diet. There has been | | | | drink significantly more than that. The average in |
| much research in recent years on the effects | | | | China is 4-5 cups a day, and in Japan it's |
| green tea has in preventing, and even treating | | | | estimated to be as high as 8-10 cups per day. If |
| cancer. Many studies have shown that green tea's | | | | you don't think you can manage that much tea in |
| anti-oxidant power can be a powerful | | | | a day, there are green tea extract supplements |
| preventative against cancer. Not only is this | | | | available at many drug stores and health food |
| suggested by the significantly lower cancer rate in | | | | stores. |
| Asian countries where green tea is widely | | | | One of the great things about using green tea as |
| consumed, but many studies have supported this | | | | a preventative treatment is that there are no |
| theory. | | | | side effects. Green tea is healthy and safe even |
| In 1999, the Alternative Medicine Review reported | | | | to give to your children. Green tea has significantly |
| that green tea appears to affect cancer in many | | | | less caffeine that coffee and even has less |
| ways. First, it is a powerful free radical scavenger, | | | | caffeine that traditional black tea. So, it's well |
| and destroys more free radicals than many other | | | | tolerated by nearly everyone. |
| forms of anti-oxidants. | | | | In addition to research showing that green tea |
| Secondly, green tea seems to have the power to | | | | helps prevent cancer, there is also evidence to |
| inhibit the growth of abnormal cells, many of | | | | suggest that it reduces your risk of heart disease, |
| which might have started as, or turned into | | | | stroke, high blood pressure and Alzheimer's |
| cancer cells. Green tea also appears to be a very | | | | disease. It is also thought to slow down the |
| strong detoxifying agent, helping to rid the body | | | | overall aging process. So, what do you have to |
| of potentially harmful substances. | | | | lose? It seems there is no downside to drinking |
| Finally, the Alternative Medicine Review reported | | | | green tea and there may be a great many |
| that green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. | | | | benefits. |