| It's beginning to become apparent to the medical | | | | post-menopausal woman is at a higher risk for breast |
| community that drinking green tea has many health | | | | cancer if she continues to have high circulating |
| benefits, including the prevention of cancer. This is | | | | hormone levels. This is the reason why women who |
| incredibly exciting news, particularly since cancer is | | | | use estrogen therapy to ease the symptoms of |
| one of the most insidious and feared diseases in our | | | | menopause are at a greater risk for cancer than |
| society today. | | | | those who do not use estrogen. |
| Almost 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer | | | | And, we know that a high level of testosterone in |
| this year, and about 500,000 people will die from | | | | the blood causes prostate cancer to grow more |
| cancer this year. In fact, cancer is the second leading | | | | quickly. As for ovarian cancer, it is also believed that |
| cause of death in the US, after heart disease. If | | | | the circulating hormone levels are related to a higher |
| cancer rates stay the same as they are today, one | | | | risk for developing the disease. |
| in four of us will die from this disease. | | | | One study, reported by the UK Tea Council, looked |
| Many cancers are preventable by making lifestyle | | | | at the many bodies of research on hormone related |
| changes. For example, 80% of all cases of lung | | | | cancers, and how green tea might affect the risk of |
| cancer occur in those who smoke. And, most cases | | | | these cancers. This report shows that many studies |
| of skin cancer, which is the most common form of | | | | have suggested that green tea has the ability to |
| cancer, could be prevented by protecting yourself | | | | lower circulating hormone levels in the body, thereby |
| from the sun. Many other cancers can be prevented | | | | likely reducing the risk of hormone related cancers. |
| by maintaining a healthy lifestyle; maintaining a normal | | | | Much of the research performed to date has been |
| weight, getting regular exercise and eating healthy | | | | on laboratory mice, so much more research is |
| foods. | | | | needed on humans in order to really determine how |
| But, it also seems clear that green tea may be | | | | tea affects circulating hormone levels. Human studies |
| effective at helping to prevent all sorts of cancers. | | | | often lag far behind animals studies in health areas |
| Green tea is loaded with an anti-oxidant known as | | | | because they are more difficult to perform, and can |
| EGCG, and it has proven to be one of the most | | | | take many years to understand results. |
| potent anti-oxidants of all. Anti-oxidants are critical to | | | | There have, however, been some studies on humans |
| our health because they fight free radicals. Free | | | | and how their circulating hormone levels are affected |
| radicals are oxygen containing molecules that are | | | | by tea. One study looked at post menopausal |
| created as part of the conversion of food to energy. | | | | women who drank green tea, compared to those |
| When free radicals are not neutralized they damage | | | | who drank black tea and those who were not tea |
| our cells and DNA. Over time, this leads to aging and | | | | drinkers at all. This study concluded that green tea, |
| many diseases like cancer. Therefore, eating a diet | | | | but not black tea, had a significant lowering effect on |
| rich in anti-oxidants is a great way to protect your | | | | women's circulating estrogen level. We know that a |
| health. Blueberries, artichokes, asparagus, tomatoes | | | | high circulating estrogen level after menopause |
| and pomegranates are great anti-oxidant sources. | | | | increases the breast cancer risk. |
| But, green tea is just as potent as the most | | | | It's certain that more research is required, but it does |
| anti-oxidant rich fruit or vegetable. | | | | seem that green tea holds a great deal of promise |
| Green tea is simple to add to your diet. It's | | | | for cancer prevention, particularly in hormone related |
| inexpensive and available in many forms. You can | | | | cancer. And this is significant in itself. For men, |
| brew your own from loose tea or teabags, or you | | | | prostate cancer is the second most common form of |
| can buy already bottled green tea. Green tea is just | | | | cancer. For women, breast cancer is the second |
| as healthy whether you enjoy it hot or iced, and | | | | most common form of cancer, and ovarian cancer is |
| retains its healthy benefits even when you add milk. | | | | the eighth most common. |
| Green tea has become popular flavored with other | | | | So, as you can see, finding a clear way to prevent |
| fruits, so no matter what flavors you enjoy, you can | | | | these cancers would be a significant finding, indeed. |
| likely find a green tea to suit you. No other beverage | | | | And, if the prevention method is something as simple |
| is as easy to find and has such potential for | | | | as drinking green tea, it would be easy to see that |
| preventing cancer as green tea. | | | | the prevention method made it out to the masses. |
| One particular area of interest regarding green tea's | | | | So, clearly, as citizens, we should push the healthcare |
| cancer preventing qualities revolves around hormone | | | | community for more research and more information |
| related cancers, like breast cancer, prostate cancer | | | | on green tea's benefits. |
| and ovarian cancer. For example, we know that a | | | | |