Cancer is a leading cause of death all over the world and it can affect people from any walk of life. It is a medical condition where there is an abnormal growth of cells.
There are several types of cancers that have different treatments ranging from chemotherapy to surgery.
The chances of it getting cured are higher if the diagnosis is made at an early stage. You can prevent cancer if you choose to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Also, there is no denying the fact that preventing any disease is way better than curing it.
You have to work towards maintaining healthy body weight, stay away from smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol.
All of that along with regular exercise and a healthy diet can go a long way in preventing cancer.
Green tea and its Cancer curing abilities
Green tea is an immensely healthy beverage. Out of the numerous health benefits, it is also believed that it reduces the risk of cancer.
According to researchers, green tea could be a weapon in treatments for tackling cancer. This is mainly because green tea contains catechins called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (or EGCG).
EGCG is considered an active biological agent of green tea.
EGCG is known to interfere with cell replication and kill tumor cells. It is also believed to inhibit blood vessel formation around tumors.
Also, according to a new study, EGCG disrupts the metabolism of cancer cells in pancreatic cancer and slows down its progression.
Another compound called Epigallocatechin (ECG) has been found to hamper the multiplication of cancerous cells.
For researchers studying cancer prevention, this discovery is a new dawn.
How does green tea fight cancer?
The study reported in the journal Metabolomics reveals that EGCG alters the metabolism of cancerous pancreatic cells.
This occurs by the suppression of lactate dehydrogenase A or LDHA which is an important enzyme in cancer metabolism.
Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that take place in cells. It involves extracting and using energy to keep the cells alive along with letting them grow and multiply.
These cells can either be normal or cancerous.
Plenty of studies indicate that green tea and its extracts might be suitable for treating cancer and other diseases.
However, the results of studies carried out on humans are quite inconsistent. Therefore, nothing definitive can be said about it.
How much green tea should I drink to fight cancer?
Research says that consuming green tea is a good habit as it provides your body with polyphenols. Also, it is said to have zero calories.
Regarding cancer prevention, studies that have been carried out on lab animals and found to be positive. But the research on humans is not yet conclusive.
However, based on certain observational studies, drinking different amounts of green tea can help reduce the risk of different types of cancers.
To name a few:
- Oral cancer – 3 to 4 cups a day
- Prostate cancer – 5 cups a day
- Stomach cancer – 5 cups a day
- Breast cancer – 3 cups a day
- Pancreatic cancer – 5 cups a day
Since the year 2006, 50+ epidemiologic studies have been carried out to learn the connection between tea consumption and cancer. The studies are not consistent though.
The inconsistency is because sometimes green tea is studied, sometimes black tea and sometimes both. The method of tea preparation also varies each time.
Along with that, there are certainly other reasons like the variation in genes, lifestyle factors and usage of alcohol and tobacco.
Is green tea good for cancer patients?
Currently, there is no solid evidence to back the claim that green tea can help in treating cancer.
Those who are already suffering from the devastating disease consume green tea. They think that it will help in increasing their immunity and energy levels. In addition, to the ability to fight cancer.
It is also believed that green tea removes toxins from the body and aids in the treatment of cancer. Most often green tea is seen as a last resort when the medical treatment does not seem to be working.
Can green tea shrink tumors?
According to lab tests conducted by researchers in the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, EGCG was able to shrink 2/3rd of the tumors in a matter of a month.
The tests were carried out on two types of skin cancers. It was found that 40% of both the kind of tumors vanished whereas 30% of one and 20% of the other shrank.
Additionally, 10% of one of the types got stabilized.
It is important to note that the process did not harm any other healthy tissues. However, the test involved the use of an extract of the aforementioned compound.
This was a maiden attempt by researchers in using EGCG present in green tea to effectively shrink tumors.
The attempts made in the past to make the most of its cancer-fighting properties have been unsuccessful. The researchers used intravenous drips that were not able to deliver a sufficient amount of the extract to the tumors.
This made the Strathclyde team formulate a targeted delivery system that involved piggy-backing the EGCG extract on proteins that carry iron molecules. These are sucked up by cancer tumors. (Source)
Does green tea cause cancer?
No, green tea does not have cancer-causing effects. Drinking green tea in moderation should not be a problem.
However, always drink green tea that is not too hot. Because boiling hot beverages above 65 degrees Celsius can lead to esophageal cancer.
Is green tea effective in preventing cancer?
Though research has been carried out in connection with the cancer-preventing benefits of green tea, it is not yet clear that the beverage can actually do so.
However, green tea has several health benefits to offer and can be a part of a healthy lifestyle.
Green tea is loaded with cancer-fighting flavonoids in its brew. The compounds get rid of cells connected to skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal and bladder cancers.
By eating healthy and engaging in physical activities regularly you can keep most life-threatening diseases away.
It has to be noted that you need to start early in life with healthy practices so that you can reap the maximum benefits.
What cancers does green tea prevent?
Certain studies have indicated that drinking green tea may prevent various cancers. These include:
- breast cancer,
- prostate cancer,
- colon cancer,
- gastric cancer,
- lung cancer,
- liver cancer,
- solid tumor cancers,
- leukemia, and
- skin cancer related to exposure to sunlight.
Green tea is used by some women to fight the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is the one that causes genital warts, abnormal growth of cells in the cervix (cervical dysplasia) and cervical cancer.
Instead of drinking green tea, some individuals apply green tea bags directly to their skin. It is believed that it helps in soothing sunburn and prevents skin cancer because of sun exposure.
The Bottom Line
On the whole, being a rich source of antioxidants, chiefly polyphenols, green tea repairs the oxidative damage that is caused to the cells by free radicals. Oxidative damage is a major risk factor for cancer.
Antioxidants are present in huge quantities in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. And, consuming antioxidant-rich foods is said to be good.
But research does not say that the intake of antioxidant supplements is beneficial.
Antioxidant extracts may work well in the lab environment but when used in human trials, the results have not been that impressive.
Moreover, certain antioxidant supplements have a negative effect when consumed in large quantities. Some can even cause cancer!
