Do You Know About Green Tea and Cancer?

Studies concerning green tea and cancer prevention have been conclusive enough to allow manufacturers in the US to make a verifiable health claim.  The Food and Drug Administration approves or disapproves claims of this nature.  They have allowed claims concerning a reduced risk of breast and prostate cancer, as long as the claims are not overstated or misleading.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of research studies have been conducted using extracts from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant.  That is the standard tea plant from which black and green teas are made.  The black ones are processed using heat and humidity, which reduces the antioxidant content of the leaves.  Leaves meant for green teas are not processed in this fashion.  The antioxidant content is higher.  The caffeine content is about the same.

There are those that argue that some of the health benefits (not the ones related to green tea and cancer) could have to do with the caffeine content, rather than anything else.  The benefits that they are speaking of refer to heart and vascular health, brain function and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. 

Many researchers and doctors believe that moderate amounts of caffeine are good for your health.  But, if your daily intake exceeds 500mg, you may experience insomnia, heart palpitations, anxiety, increased urine output and other health problems. 

Doctors have also suggested that moderate alcohol intake is good for your health, but everyone knows that, in excess, alcohol is damaging to the liver.  No more than one or two alcoholic beverages per day are recommended.  When it comes to caffeine, you must consider all of the sources in which the stimulant is found, including chocolate, sodas, over-the-counter medications and teas.

When it comes to green tea and cancer prevention, the benefits are not due to the caffeine, but to the antioxidant content.  There is no doubt about that.  Caffeine has no effect on cancer cells, in the laboratory or in life.  But, antioxidants have various effects on the mutated cells, including slowing the progression of the tumor, inhibiting free radical damage that causes the mutation and signaling the cancer cells to self-destruct.

Free radicals are some of the most damaging molecules that exist, when it comes to human health.  Antioxidants are our body’s natural defense against those molecules.  When it comes to antioxidant activity, green tea and cancer prevention, other antioxidants are much more potent.

Some of the weaker antioxidants include the vitamins A, C, E and the nutrient selenium.  Some of the better ones are lutein, bilberry extract, L-carnosine, grape seed and green tea extracts.  But, the most potent antioxidant is l-glutathione. 

The only problem with l-glutathione supplementation is that it must be prepared in the reduced form, or the molecules will be too large to enter the bloodstream.  It must also be protected from stomach acid, or it will be broken down into its constituent amino acids.

The studies concerning green tea and cancer prevention are positive.  But, if you want the most help that you can get, look for a supplement that contains all of the antioxidants mentioned here, in their proper form. If you have two minutes to spare, please take a look at my website now.