Health Benefits Of Green Tea For Cancer ?

Health Benefits Of Green Tea For Cancer?

Tea drinking appears to have originated in Asia and dates back over 5000 years. There has been a lot of news about the health benefits of green tea in fighting diseases such as aging and other conditions but did you know about the benefits of green tea for cancer prevention and fighting ability

It is full of antioxidants; in fact, up to one-third of dry green tea is composed of antioxidants known as Catechins.  The antioxidant activity in green tea has been shown to fight damage caused by free radicals and increase cardiovascular health, organ health, fight infection and even lose weight but one of the most important things that green tea offers is the presence of Catechins which are proving to be important in the fight against cancer.



Cancer Treatment

Benefits of green tea in the treatment of existing cancer tumors through the antioxidant ECGC both preventing tumor growth and reducing the size and spread of existing tumors.  EGCG is thought bind to a tumor chemical known as Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) which promotes tumor cell growth.

By binding to DHFR, green tea can inhibit tumor cell growth and cause tumor cell death.  This property of green tea may reduce folic acid levels within the body; however reduced folic acid can easily be remedied by eating foods rich in folic acids such as chicken, beans and green leafy vegetables.

In research trials, green tea extract was able to target cancer cells by making them more mature and easier to kill.  It also caused them to bind more tightly together, making it harder for cancer to spread to other parts of the body.  This facet of green tea cancer ability also has promise when used with other more traditional treatments because the tumor cells are kept in place and are therefore easier to treat.

Green tea may also prove of some use in blocking estrogen receptors.  This will be beneficial in estrogen-dependent cancers such as uterine and breast cancers.  It may also help to reduce blood supply to cancer tumors, further limiting the growth and spread of the cancer cells.


In research studies, it has been made clear that the agents in green tea were able to target the cancer cells, without affecting the healthy cells.  This is important because of traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy target cancer cells and healthy tissue alike.  Green tree cancer treatment appears to be different.

Cancer Prevention

The Catechins in Green Tea are powerful antioxidants that may prevent genetic cell damage caused by both cancers and chemotherapy.  They are also thought to protect the body against toxic agents which may cause cancer such as cigarette smoke and dioxin.

EGCG binds to a genetic receptor known as the aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptor which has the ability to turn on genes that can initiate cancer development.  Blocking this receptor will help ensure that this receptor remains in the “off” position so that cancer does not start.  This is important in cancers that have a high genetic pattern such as breast and colon cancers.

EGCG also activates a type of enzyme known as Glutathione S Transferase (GST) which acts to break down toxic chemicals that may cause cancer.  EGCG helps to increase the activity of GST which decreases the chance that a person will get cancer from environmental toxins.

In addition to damaging chemicals found in the environment such as pollution and cigarette smoke, the human body produces its own free radicals.  To become stable, these molecules steal electrons from body proteins and genetic material.  This damage from free radicals may leave body cells susceptible to the development of tumors.  Green tea cancer antioxidants may protect the body from free radicals and may actually target and repair cells that are already damaged.  This will help to prevent the development and spread of cancer.


Though all tea has some antioxidant activity, unlike black tea green tea is unfermented and minimally processed and has 3 times the antioxidant activity of black tea.  Green tea continues to be widely studied for its cancer therapy properties.  Whether used as a cancer prevention tool or for the treatment of existing cancer, to realize the full benefits of green tea for cancer-fighting properties, two to three cups should be consumed daily along with folate-rich foods.

There are many people out there who use green tea for cancer prevention. There have been numerous studies that have shown people who use green tea on a regular basis are less likely to develop certain types of cancer. The cancers that this herbal supplement specifically helps prevent include breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. Anyone can use this herbal supplement to help prevent any type of cancer, but you must know that the results are not guaranteed. Just because you take or use this supplement, does not mean you will not get cancer. It just lessens the probability that you will get cancer.

Benefits of green tea for cancer is not an unknown thing. Women have been aware of the benefits of using green tea to help prevent breast cancer for many years. Studies have shown that using this herbal supplement on a regular basis has helped prevent breast cancer and also has helped to slow down its progression in those who already have it. The reason that scientists think it helps with breast cancer is because of the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that is in the herbal supplement. This herbal supplement has very high quantities of EGCG in it and it is believed that this is the reason it is so good at preventing and slowing down cancers like breast cancer.

For men, taking green tea for cancer of the prostate is a must try. Prostate cancer is becoming an alarmingly more common cancer in men these days. In clinical studies, men who tested positive for being high risk for prostate cancer and were given green tea herbal supplements on a regular basis demonstrated that 90% of those men did not develop cancer. That is outstanding, even though it is not exactly indicative of the overall effect of the herbal supplement on prostate cancer prevention. Still, it is very much promising. Again, it is believed to help with the disease because of EGCG quantity that is in the herbal supplement.

If you are worried about lung cancer, then taking green tea herbal supplements could help you. Taking green tea for cancer of the lung is a more recent thing to come out of studies. Researchers have noted that this herbal supplement is especially helpful for those who smoke, but it can also benefit those who do not smoke. Using this herbal supplement on a regular basis can help prevent lung cancer, again, because of the EGCG amount that is found within it. Please note that it does not prevent lung cancer by 100%. It just greatly reduces your risk of developing the disease.

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