Green Tea and Breast Cancer

Green tea has been said to have many health benefits. Some have been scientifically established; others are still considered “old-wives tales.” One new advantage that is being researched is the claim that green tea can help prevent breast cancer and to help in fighting the disease. The Chinese have used green tea for medicinal purposes. They have used green tea to treat different diseases for over 4000 years.

Green tea is rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, tannins, and minerals such as fluoride and aluminum. Green tea has one polyphenols that is considered the best for good health. EGCG is an important antioxidant that helps to slow down cancer cells from reproducing themselves. It also kills cancer cells without harming the healthy cells surrounding them. Green tea lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and helps prevent the formation of blood clots. The tea has proven effective in helping the immune system, rheumatoid arthritis, infection, and cardiovascular diseases.

Green tea is also said to help prevent tooth decompose and is used as an aid to losing weight. Studies show that green tea helps avert prostate cancer, and reduces the risk of esophageal cancer in a study of people who were passionate to smoking.

Green Tea and Black Tea

There is a difference in green tea and black tea. Both come from the Camellia sinensis plant but black tea is fermented and green tea is not. Oolong tea is made from partially fermented tealeaves. Green tea is popular in the nations of the Far East and is becoming more popular all through the world.

Studies on Green Tea

Studies were made with rats involving green tea. Part of the study group drank green tea and the other half drank only water. The rats that drank green tea had their tumors grow smaller and new tumors were slower in developing. The rats that drank only water had no momentous drop of growth in their tumors and developed new tumors faster.

Results are not yet in about tumors in humans. Many years of study need to be completed before green tea is considered as a cancer fighter. To be effective in humans, you would need to drink three to four cups of green tea each day. You would need to drink your tea without sugar and milk. If you are at risk of developing breast cancer, you may think drinking green tea. Although, it may be excessive tea to drink each day, people drinking more coffee and soda daily are there.

The only drawback for humans is the caffeine found in green tea. Green tea contains less caffeine than the same amount of coffee but if you are drinking green tea in large amounts, it does add up fast. Caffeine can reason insomnia and disrupt sleep patterns.

Green tea is found in capsule form but hasn’t been proven effectual in slowing cancer growth. Check out the tea aisle in your local grocery store. You will find a large variety of green tea, both in regular and decaffeinated varieties. One particular favor I have tried recently is peach flavored green tea. I enjoyed it so much I forgot it enclosed caffeine. I won’t be doing that another time!