Is there truth to the idea of cancer prevention with tea drinking? According to some studies, tea can work in numerous ways to help prevent cancer for some. These studies show that tea can inhibit the formation of tumors and slow the growth of existing tumors. According to 1997 University of Kansas research, the antioxidant power of EGCG is approximately 100 times greater than Vitamin C and 25 times greater than Vitamin E in restricting the free radical damage to DNA that could increase the risk of cancer.
The idea of cancer prevention with tea drinking has been around for several decades and has been noted in possibly diminishing these types of cancers:
Breast Cancer: Research shows that breast cancer is much less common in countries where green tea is regularly drunk. One such study showed that women who drink at least 26 ounces of green tea leaves each year had a 39 percent reduced risk of breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.
Ovarian Cancer: Studies have shown drinking two or more cups of green or black tea a day lowered the risk for ovarian cancer by 46 percent in 61,000 women, with each additional cup lowering the risk by another 18 percent. It is possible that the more black tea you drink the greater protection against ovarian cancer.
Lung Cancer: Another study concerning the prevention of cancer by tea drinking showed that smokers who drank four cups of decaffeinated green tea a day had a 31 percent decrease in biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage in white blood cells compared to those drinking four cups of water per day. The oxidative DNA damage is connected to the development of various forms of cancer. Black tea may have a preventive effect on the exposure of smoke to the lungs.
Prostate Cancer: Second to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men. More than 230,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet another study has found that the polyphenols in green tea can help prevent the spread of prostate cancer.
Other Cancers: In addition to the above forms of cancer, studies have shown that tea can assist the prevention of other cancers such as skin, stomach, bladder and colon cancers.
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