Green Tea as Cancer Therapy
Green Tea is processed from the Camellia sinensis plant. The antioxidants found in tea (catechins) appear to selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. The catechins are released abundantly in green tea, whereas they are almost negligible in black tea. Steaming the leaves produces green tea, while drying the leaves produces black tea. Although, the most potent anticancer properties come from green tea, it only accounts for 20% of tea consumed worldwide. The National Cancer Institutes of China and Japan have been researching green tea with the same fervor that the American NCI has been researching chemotherapy drugs. However, in recent years, green tea has been getting the attention of our own NCI. Its research is showing that tea catechins scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Ongoing NCI studies are testing green tea’s effect against skin cancer. The prospective use of green tea to help prevent and treat cancer tumors certainly deserves the increased priorities of the NCI and other research supporting institutions in America.
Further research into green tea and other natural complements to cancer therapy is one of the objectives of the new strategy for the war on cancer and the Connie Thompson Foundation.
A reader has inquired about integrative oncologists in Iowa. Anyone live in Iowa or familiar with Iowa who could provide input? Please reply by commenting on this post or email: info@cancerchoices.org.