Green tea is among the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, second only to water. Because green tea is unfermented, its nutrients remain intact for consumption. Scientific evidence points to green tea as having protective health benefits. However, the advice of a medical professional should be sought before you try to prevent, treat or cure any condition with green tea.
Prostate Health
Green tea may help protect men from prostate cancer. A study published in January 2006 in "Cancer Research" found that green tea treated premalignant lesions prior to the formation of cancer. The researchers identified the catechins, a chemical found in green tea, as the compounds responsible. Catechins are antioxidants meaning they can eliminate harmful substances from the body. The men treated did not experience any adverse side effects.
Benign prostate hyperplasia is a condition where an enlarged prostate occurs which can cause problems urinating. The green tea catechins in the study were also found to lower urinary tract symptoms. Therefore, the researchers suggest that green tea catechins may be a treatment option for benign prostate hyperplasia.
Breast Cancer
The polyphenols in green tea may protect against brain cancer. Polyphenols are another antioxidant group of plant chemicals. A study published in January 2007 in "Cancer Letters" found that green tea polyphenols protected against the spread of breast cancer in both human breast cancer cells in vitro, or outside the body, and in vivo, or inside the body, of mice in this study. The treatment with green tea polyphenols led to a reduction in breast cancer cell proliferation and caused apoptosis, or cell death, in both experimental models.
Colon Cancer
Green tea may be useful in the prevention of colon cancer. A study published in 2008 in "Carcinogenesis" found that colon tissue cells of rats with colon cancer showed signs of slowed cancer progression in rats treated with green tea extract. Among the indicators for improved cancer outcomes were apoptosis, or death, of cancerous cells.
Obesity
There is evidence that points to green tea as an anti-obesity agent. A study published in September 2008 in the "The Journal of Nutrition" found that green tea lowered liver triglycerides and lowered body weights in rats fed a high-fat diet compared to rats that did not receive green tea. The researchers studied the effect of green tea over a course of 16 weeks.
References
- "Cancer Research": Chemoprevention of Human Prostate Cancer by Oral Administration of Green Tea Catechins in Volunteers with High-Grade Prostate Intraepithelial Neoplasia: A Preliminary Report from a One-Year Proof-of-Principle Study; Saverio Bettuzzi, et al.; January 2006
- "Cancer Letters": Green Tea Polyphenols and its Constituent Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Proliferation of Human Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro and in Vivo; R.L.Thangapazham, et al.; January 2007
- "Carcinogenesis": Green Tea Polyphenols Inhibit Colorectal Aberrant Crypt Foci (ACF) Formation and Prevent Oncogenic Changes in Dysplastic ACF in Azoxymethane-Treated F344 Rats: Hang Xiao, et al.; 2008
- "The Journal of Nutrition": The Major Green Tea Polyphenol, (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate, Inhibits Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Fatty Liver Disease in High-Fat-Fed Mice; Mousumi Bose, et al.; September 2008
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