Can Green Tea Fight Cancer?

There are many health benefits of green tea. The popular herbal drink, derived from the Camellia sinesis plant found in Asia, dates back 3,000 years. Over time, this tea has been effective in lowering cholesterol, burning fat, preventing diabetes, decreasing stroke and arthritis and reducing dementia. Research is also brewing about the hot beverage's potential for fighting cancer.

Green tea is comprised of powerful antioxidants. It's these compounds, called catechins, that scour the body looking for free radicals which contribute to cancer. Other sources rich in the same antioxidants include red wine, berries, dark chocolate and many vegetables. Green tea is made from withered and steamed leaves, not the fermented ones found in black and oolong teas. This means the processing of green tea is minimal, which allows more of the tea's catechins, specifically, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), to be more available.

While there are no definitive results that show green tea can prevent cancer on its own, its EGCG compounds have been shown to reduce cancer growth and kill unhealthy cells that are growing and spreading. It is thought that the powerful compounds in green tea may also help stop new blood vessels from forming, thereby cutting off the supply of blood to cancer cells.

In one study with nearly 500 Japanese women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer, researchers found that increased green tea consumption before and after surgery was associated with a lower recurrence of the cancer. Another study in China proved that the more green tea participants drank, the less likely they were to develop stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. A third analysis comparing 22 different studies summarized that two cups of green tea a day may reduce the risk of lung cancer by 18 percent.

On the other hand, it's important to note that green tea can inhibit certain cancer drugs from working effectively. Researchers found that the EGCG in green tea deactivates the cancer drug, Velcade, which is used to treat myeloma and lymphoma. It has been recommended that patients undergoing cancer therapy with Velcade should avoid green tea and any of its concentrated products. As always, it's best to check with your doctor for specific advice.

Read about other benefits of green tea, including healthier skin.