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GREEN TEA (EGCG) & CANCER |
An ancient Chinese proverb states that it is better to be without food for three days than be deprived of tea for one. Since the ancient times, green tea has been used to cure headaches and depression. In ancient China, it was used as a medicine for over 4000 years. And now in the present day world, green tea has been found to be one of the rarest cures of cancer. Its cancer fighting abilities are much more potent than were originally expected. It has been observed that the green tea chemicals tend to shut down the key molecules that cause cancer. That is why people who drink green tea are less likely to develop cancer. The original findings of the cancer curing effect of green tea came from animal studies and then by tracking the disease’s occurrence in a large number of people. This means that the effects of green tea on humans are based almost entirely on observation which does not mean that green tea is really responsible for these results. But in spite of this, green tea is still among the most beneficial forms of tea in terms of fighting diseases since it contains polyphenols, which are disease fighting oxidants. In experiments conducted on mice, it was found that green tea prevents prostate cancer growth. It induces cancer cell death and starves the tumors by preventing the growth of new blood vessels which feed them. Green tea reduces the risk of esophageal cancer in women by 50%. ___________________________________________
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In humans, a molecule known as the aryl hydrocarbon or AH receptor has the ability of activating genes. This activation of genes might not always be in a very positive manner. With excessive intake of tobacco smoke and dioxins, this molecule tends to trigger very harmful gene activity which is responsible for cancer. Green tea is found to inhibit this activity of the AH receptors. Green tea contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) and EGC Epigallocatechin). Both these compounds are very similar in structure to other flavonoids that are found in cabbage, grapes and broccoli. It has been suggested that these compounds might act through different pathways to shut down the cancer cells. But in spite of this, the clinical results may not prove to have the same effect in everyday life as it is yet to be seen how the green tea is broken down inside the body. Along with this, there are also a lot of differences among various types of green tea. Although certain properties of green tea have been found to be useful, it is not yet known if they will have the same effect as they have not been tested properly yet.
There is a different way of processing green tea so that it’s main disease fighting compounds are not destroyed. The leaves of green tea are steamed. This prevents EGCG from getting oxidized. The other tea leaves are fermented which converts EGCG into other ineffective compounds. Green tea is also being tested as a preventive agent against skin cancer. Green tea extracts collected in a pill are currently being tested to protect against sun induced skin damage. Green tea, if taken in form of hot liquid like tea or soup, does not have quite the same effect as it is expected to have.
There is no doubt that green tea is among the most beneficial of all natural foods or drinks. However, it also has some harmful effects. Since it contains caffeine, Insomnia has been reported quite a number of times. But compared to coffee, green tea contains much less amount of caffeine.
It has been officially proved that green tea extracts help in prevention of cancer in humans. But to what extent are they actually helpful cannot be determined. We have to wait for further research. However, a few cups of tea will not harm anybody. So keep taking tea on a regular basis to keep diseases like cancer at bay.
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