| Each year more and more research is conducted | | | | help rid our bodies of the free radicals that put |
| on how to reduce your risk of developing cancer. | | | | our health at risk. Some foods and beverages |
| For some forms of cancer, it's fairly simple to | | | | have more potent anti-oxidants than others. |
| understand how to reduce risk. For example, we | | | | Doctors recommend that we make these "super |
| know that most lung cancer victims are smokers, | | | | foods" part of our everyday life. |
| and that many cases of skin cancer are caused | | | | Fruits |
| by unprotected over exposure to the sun. | | | | All fresh fruits are rich in anti-oxidants. However, |
| For other cancers, understanding how to reduce | | | | the ones that are the most potent include |
| our risk is not so simple, because we don't really | | | | blueberries, pomegranates, strawberries and |
| understand what causes them. | | | | cranberries. |
| Even in cancers that we don't fully understand, | | | | Vegetables |
| scientists are working to determine how our | | | | Again, fresh vegetables supply a good dose of |
| lifestyle might increase our risks. For example, a | | | | anti-oxidants. Tomatoes, which contain lycopene, |
| study was conducted in Nagoya, Japan to help | | | | are one of the best vegetables you can eat. |
| better understand the lifestyle factors that might | | | | However, artichokes and red beans are also very |
| contribute to the development of urinary bladder | | | | good anti-oxidant sources. |
| cancer. | | | | Tea |
| The study also evaluated lifestyle habits that | | | | Tea is a simple way to get your anti-oxidants. |
| actually reduce your risk of bladder cancer. The | | | | Tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. There |
| findings were interesting, and can help us make | | | | are many types of tea on the market, but all tea |
| lifestyle choices that can protect our health. | | | | comes from the same plant. |
| This study examined the following lifestyle habits | | | | The difference between green, white and black |
| and their ability to increase or reduce risk for | | | | tea comes from the way the tea is processed. |
| urinary bladder cancer: | | | | Black tea is fermented; white and green are not. |
| Cigarette Smoking - Cigarette Smoking was | | | | Green and white tea have been found to be |
| found to increase the risk of developing urinary | | | | better sources of anti-oxidants because they |
| bladder cancer. The increased risk was more | | | | fermenting that black tea goes through changes |
| significant in women than men. | | | | the anti-oxidants into compounds that are not as |
| Drinking cocoa - Interestingly enough, drinking | | | | healthy. |
| cocoa was associated with an elevation in risk of | | | | The study quoted above found that black tea had |
| urinary bladder cancer in men, but not in women. | | | | the same benefits as green tea in preventing |
| Hair Color - Women who used hair color had a | | | | urinary bladder cancer in women. However, most |
| slightly elevated risk of developing urinary bladder | | | | other studies conducted on the benefits of tea |
| cancer if they also smoke. However, non smoking | | | | have concluded that green tea is better. |
| women had no significant risk factor if they used | | | | Green tea began gaining attention because of the |
| hair color. | | | | significantly lower incidence of cancer and heart |
| Drinking coffee- Coffee drinking showed no | | | | disease in Asian culture. Even though Asians are |
| elevated risk - but it showed no benefit, either. | | | | more likely to smoke than Americans, they have |
| Drinking alcohol - No significant risk was associated | | | | lower incidence of cancer and heart disease - |
| with alcohol intake. | | | | even lung cancer. It appears that their high |
| Drinking sodas - No significant risk was associated | | | | consumption of green tea protects their health in |
| with drinking sodas. | | | | a way that other dietary habits do not. |
| Drinking fruit juice- Fruit juice was associated with | | | | Research has even suggested that green tea |
| a decreased risk in developing urinary bladder | | | | may be effective at treating patients who already |
| cancer in men. No risk or benefit was notable in | | | | have cancer. Several studies, on different forms |
| women. | | | | of cancer, have shown that traditional cancer |
| Drinking Tea - Women who drank black tea and | | | | treatments, such as chemotherapy, are more |
| powdered green tea showed a reduced risk of | | | | effective when green tea is administered along |
| developing urinary bladder cancer. The figures for | | | | with the treatment. Green tea seems to increase |
| men showed no increase or decrease of risk. | | | | the concentration of the drugs in the cancerous |
| What's So Great About Tea and Fruit? | | | | cells and slows down cancer progression, perhaps |
| This study echoes the findings of many other | | | | even preventing metastasis. |
| studies, indicating that tea and fruit are of benefit | | | | Much of the research that has been performed |
| in preventing cancer. Scientists are now fully | | | | has been on mice or in-vitro, though the study |
| beginning to understand how important these | | | | outlined above was performed on humans. The |
| substances are to protecting our health. But, why | | | | next step in truly understanding how foods, |
| are they so important? Well, the answer is in | | | | including tea, can protect our health, preventing |
| anti-oxidants. | | | | cancer and other disease, is to conduct more |
| Anti-oxidants have the power to combat free | | | | human trials. The results could take years, |
| radicals. Free radicals are produced naturally by | | | | because human trials on prevention require |
| our body during the process of converting the | | | | following subjects over a long period of time. |
| food we eat to energy. These free radicals speed | | | | Preventing cancer is a national health concern. |
| up the aging process, and can cause clogged | | | | Certainly, much more study is required before we |
| arteries, cancer and other disease by damaging | | | | can gain true understanding of how to protect our |
| our cells and DNA. | | | | health. One thing's for sure, however; a diet rich in |
| Fruits, vegetables and tea are filled with | | | | fruits, vegetables and tea is a good start! |
| anti-oxidants. A diet rich in these foods, therefore, | | | | |