Green tea…..what ancient Asia already knew.

Green tea, which grows in particularly humid climates, contains numerous polyphenols, called catechins. One of the most powerful is the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which stops the formation of new blood vessels by cancer cells. It also blocks the receptors on neighbour cells and prevents them being invaded by the cancer cells by inhibiting the production of NF-kappa B. Not only has it shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects but it also facilitates the suicide (apoptosis) of the cancer cells. Therefore it is a very potent anti-cancerous agent. It has shown its effects slowing the growths of leukaemia, breast, prostate, kidney, skin and mouth cancer.

Green tea is also an excellent detoxifier of the body, helping the liver eliminating cancerous toxins.

In addition, it has shown to make cancer cells more sensitive to radio- and chemotherapy.

Finally, this effect of EGCG is still more striking when combined with soy.

This precious molecule is destroyed when the green tea is fermented and turns into black tea.

From studies, I would suggest having on average 3-5 cups of ecologic/organic whole leave green tea.

References:

1. Y. Cao, R. Cao, ‘Angiogenesis inhibited by drinking tea’ Nature, 398(6726), 1999: 381.
2. J. Jankun, S. H. Selman, R. Swiercz, E. Skrzypczak—Iankun, ‘Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer’ Nature, 387(6633), 1997: 561.
3. M. Demeule, B. Annabi, I. Michaud—Levesque, S. Lamy, R. Béliveau, ‘Dietary prevention of cancer: Anticancer and antiangiogenic properties of green tea polyphenols’ Medicinal Chemistry Reviews-Online 2, 2005: 49—58.
4. N. McLaughlin, B. Annabi, M. P. Lachambre, et a1. ‘Combined low dose ionizing radiation and green tea-derived epigallocatechin-3-ga11ate treatment induces human brain endothelial cells death’ Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 80(2), 2006: 111—21.
5. J. R. Zhou, L. Yu, Z. Mai, G. L. Blackburn, ‘Combined inhibition of estrogen-dependent human breast carcinoma by soy and tea bioactive components in mice’ International Journal of cancer, 108(1), 2004: 8—14.
6. J. R. Zhou, L. Yu, Y. Zhong, G. L. Blackburn, ‘Soy phytochemicals and tea bioactive components synergistically inhibit androgen-sensitive human prostate tumours in mice’ Journal ofNutrition, 133(2), 2003: 516—21.
7. M. Inoue, K. Tajima, M. Mizutani, et a1. ‘Regular consumption of green tea and the risk of breast cancer recurrence: Follow-up study from the hospital-based epidemiologic research programme at Aichi Cancer Centre (HERPACC), Japan’ Cancer Letters 167, no. 2 (2001): 175—82.
8. N. Kurashi, S. Sasazuki, M. Iwasaki, et a1. ‘Green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in Japanese men: A prospective study’ American Journal of Epidemiology 167, no. 1 (2007): 71—7.