In
2005 and 2006, FDA rejected green tea cancer fighting claims. They concluded
that its anti-cancer properties are unproven. What should we make out of
this?
According
to Barbara Schneeman of FDA, green tea does not reduce the risk of
cardiovascular (heart) disease.
Here
is what she wrote in 2006:
FDA
concludes there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for
green tea or green
tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with
CVD (cardiovascular disease).
This
is not the first time the FDA has spoken out. The year before, it said "green
tea does not reduce the risk of breast, prostate or any other type of
cancer".
Why?
Because there are insufficient green tea cancer studies to prove it.
In
particular, more human trials are needed to clarify and further understand the
scientific mechanisms involved.
Are You
Concerned?
Is
green tea just another health fad that has been drummed up by clever
marketers?
What
exactly does the science say?
Should
you go ahead and start drinking green tea? Or is there a better alternative
around?
Let
me answer your first question first.
How Does It Work?
Green
tea is extremely versatile. Studies involving cell culture and animals have
found that it blocks cancer in a number of ways.
- Powerful Antioxidants
One
of the most powerful in nature, green tea antioxidants have been found to be
over 100 times more effective in neutralizing free radicals than vitamin C, and
25 times more powerful than vitamin E.
The
most important antioxidant is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).
Studies have found that it reduces cellular damage that could lead to
cancer.
- Few Side Effects
Green
tea based drugs may cure cancer without nasty side effects.
Unlike
drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex, studies suggest that EGCG destroys cancer
cells without harming surrounding healthy cells.
- Starve Cancer Cells
To
reproduce quickly, cancer cells need many blood vessels to supply them with
nutrients. Green tea blocks angiogenesis, or the development of new blood
vessels, thus starving off these cancer cells from nutrients.
- Kill Cancer Cells
Green
tea turns off the growth genes and turns on the suicide genes in cancer cells.
It works as a free radical just inside cancer cells, causing so much damage that
the cancer cells commit suicide.
- Block Cancer-Causing Enzyme
Overproduction
of enzyme cyclooxygenase, COX-2 has been implicated as a factor in many
diseases, including arthritis and cancer. Green tea inhibits the overproduction
of COX-2.
Green
tea also blocks enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which has been found to
be a catalyst to cancer growth.
How
Green Tea Blocks Cancer Growth
Still Unproven?
The
mechanisms of green tea cancer fighting action are well understood. Like many
other fruits and vegetables, it will help reduce your cancer risk.
What
is less certain is this: If you are suffering from cancer, how can green tea
help you?
With
insufficient human trials, it will be dangerous for companies to market green
tea products as cancer-preventive. After all, it is the job of the FDA to make
sure solid research exists for any product claim.
If you are suffering from
cancer, would consuming green tea extract tablets cure you?
I
think not. Although they may do one day, such medicines do not yet exist.
If you are healthy but prone
to suffering from cancer, should you start drinking green tea?
Absolutely
yes. It is one of the best sources of antioxidants that exists on Mother Earth,
considering its wide ranging health benefits, low costs and few side
effects.
Green
Tea Medical Benefits - Hear What The Doctors Say
Wide Ranging Benefits
In
the last 10 years, green tea cancer preventive properties have been widely
reported in many studies.
The
evidence is so overwhelming that the United States National Cancer Institute is
developing green tea compounds as cancer preventive agents in human
trials.
From
brain tumours to leukaemia, from lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer,
oesophageal cancer to bladder cancer, not to mention breast cancer, ovarian
cancer and prostate cancer, green tea cancer studies have rewarded scientists
with positive results.
Listed
below are the highlights. If any area interests you, click on the link to read
more.
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