| New research, the first study linking high dietary | | | | fresh mushrooms a day were about two thirds less |
| amounts of mushrooms and green teas to breast | | | | likely to develop breast cancer than those subjects |
| cancer risk, finds that women who had plenty of | | | | who didn't eat mushrooms. |
| these foods as part of their diets seem to have a | | | | Women who ate 4 grams or more of dried |
| lower risk of developing this type of cancer. This | | | | mushrooms per day had half the cancer risk. |
| study seems to add to weight to the others that | | | | Green tea drinkers consumed beverages that |
| show green tea side effects can be beneficial. | | | | included 1.05 g or more dried green tea leaves per |
| The mushrooms could be fresh or dried; though the | | | | day. |
| tea is not the same type we commonly drink in the | | | | A mushroom eater who also drank green tea had an |
| West. | | | | 82% to 89% reduced risk of getting breast cancer |
| It's well known that breast cancer rates in China are | | | | when compared to women who didn't drink green |
| 4 to 5 times lower than those in developed countries. | | | | tea or eat mushrooms. |
| The traditional Chinese diet does include large | | | | In addition to lowering breast cancer risk, green tea |
| quantities of both mushrooms and green tea and | | | | and mushrooms also reduced the malignancy of any |
| may be one of the reasons behind China's lower | | | | cancer that did form, the team found. |
| breast cancer incidence, this according to lead study | | | | "The risk of breast cancer significantly declined with |
| author Dr. Min Zhang of the University of Western | | | | the highest intake of dietary mushrooms," says |
| Australia in Perth. | | | | Zhang. The good news is that either fresh or dried |
| Sadly, even China's lowered rate of breast cancer | | | | mushrooms are equally effective. |
| has been climbing over the past few decades in | | | | The team also accounted for risk factors for breast |
| more affluent areas of the country. | | | | cancer like weight, education level and the amount of |
| The latest research involved just over 2,000 Chinese | | | | exercise they did even if they smoked or not. |
| women - half were breast cancer patients aged | | | | While it's too early to assume these foods will |
| 20-87, the other half were age matched healthy | | | | protect against cancer, it is a possibility. |
| control subjects who'd been recruited from clinics in | | | | Lab work has shown that mushroom extracts have |
| the southeastern Chinese city of Hangzhou between | | | | anti tumor properties and may even stimulate our |
| July 2004 and September 2005. | | | | immune systems' cancer defenses. |
| Besides having a confirmation of the subject's | | | | Green tea is known to be loaded with antioxidant |
| physical status, the women were interviewed | | | | compounds called polyphenols that have shown |
| face-to-face about the frequency and quantity of | | | | themselves helpful in fighting breast tumors in animal |
| mushrooms and tea consumption in their diet, other | | | | studies. |
| usual eating habits and lifestyle factors were also | | | | So, if you're concerned about cancer it may prove |
| collected using a validated, reliable questionnaire. | | | | worthwhile adding these two food items to your diet. |
| While the study doesn't prove cause and effect, it | | | | So, as well as enjoying the refreshing taste of green |
| does present some interesting results. | | | | tea, you also get the green tea side effects of |
| Overall, the team found that women who ate 10 | | | | potentially reducing your cancer risk. |
| grams (about one button mushroom) or more of | | | | |