Can Green Tea Fight Cancer?

This is definitely a matter that is worth looking into, taking into account that cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. According to "Cancer Facts & Figures 2008" issued by the American Cancer Society, in the US, cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths.

Who is at risk of developing cancer? The answer is: Anyone can develop cancer. And, in many cases, the "cure" can seem worse than the disease. You have probably known someone with cancer who has suffered through the horrors of radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and other cancer treatments. So, it is definitely worth taking a look at things that can help prevent cancer from settling in to begin with.

As fearful as the cancer risk may sound, the good news is that many forms of cancer can be prevented. The American Cancer Society stated that "All cancers caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented completely. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008 about 170,000 cancer deaths are expected to be caused by tobacco use. Scientific evidence suggests that about one-third of the 565,650 cancer deaths expected to occur in 2008 will be related to overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and nutrition and thus could also be prevented. Certain cancers are related to infectious agents, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and others, and could be prevented through behavioral changes, vaccines, or antibiotics. In addition, many of the more than 1 million skin cancers that are expected to be diagnosed in 2008 could have been prevented by protection from the sun’s rays and avoiding indoor tanning." (source: cancer.org)

As for green tea being able to fight cancer, this specific matter is still under research. The National Cancer Institute states that "Like other antioxidants, the catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants. In laboratory studies using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited the growth of cancer cells. However, human studies have proven more contradictory, perhaps due to such factors as variances in diet, environments, and populations. National Cancer Institute researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use of tea catechins against a variety of cancers."

While this matter is still being researched, I enjoy my cups of green tea made with green tea extract every day.