| There are numerous types of cancer that affect | | | | tea is so healthy. The reason is that it's loaded |
| different areas of our digestive systems. Two of | | | | with anti-oxidants in their natural state. Black tea |
| the most life threatening are cancers of the biliary | | | | also contains anti-oxidants, but during the |
| tract and gall bladder tumors. Tumors and cancers | | | | fermentation process that black tea undergoes, |
| in this part of the digestive system are rare, with | | | | these anti-oxidants change, and become less |
| only about 7500 diagnosed each year, but are | | | | healthy than in their original state. |
| more often fatal than many other forms of | | | | The anti-oxidants in tea are called catechins, part |
| digestive system cancer. | | | | of the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids. EGCG is one |
| Gall bladder cancer occurs more frequently in | | | | of the catechins contained in tea, and is one of |
| women than men, and your likelihood of | | | | the most potent anti-oxidants around. Because |
| contracting it increases as you age. Hispanics are | | | | green tea hasn't been fermented, the EGCG is in |
| more likely to get gall bladder cancer than any | | | | its most natural and potent state. |
| other population. It is not usually diagnosed until it | | | | Anti-oxidants are so important because they |
| is far advanced, which is why the prognosis is | | | | combat the free radicals in our bodies. Free |
| usually poor. | | | | radicals are damaging oxygen molecules that |
| We don't fully understand the cause of gall bladder | | | | occur as a result of our body's process of |
| cancer, but we do know that people who suffer | | | | converting food to energy. If they are left |
| from gall stones are more likely to develop it later | | | | unchecked, they cause cell and DNA damage, |
| on. This appears to be because the gall stones | | | | which eventually leads to aging and disease. |
| cause chronic inflammation in the gall bladder, | | | | So, to protect our health, it's important to get |
| which can lead to the development of abnormal | | | | anti-oxidants in our diet every day. Fruits and |
| cells. | | | | vegetables are good sources, as is coffee, black |
| Other biliary tract cancers are diagnosed in about | | | | tea and dark chocolate. But, green tea is one of |
| 2000-3000 Americans each year. Like gall bladder | | | | the very best sources. A diet rich in anti-oxidants |
| cancer, it is often not diagnosed until it has | | | | can help prevent cancer, heart attack and stroke, |
| reached late stages and often metastasized. | | | | as well as general premature aging. |
| Again, the cause is not fully known, but, as with | | | | The research regarding cancer is significant. In |
| other digestive system cancers, it occurs more | | | | addition to the study mentioned above regarding |
| frequently in the obese. It also occurs more | | | | digestive cancers, there have been numerous |
| frequently in Hispanics, American Indians, Eastern | | | | other studies suggesting that green tea can |
| Europeans and Japanese. | | | | protect against many forms of cancer. In fact, |
| In recent years, there has been a fair amount of | | | | Japan's medical community now considers green |
| research on the cancer preventative effects of | | | | tea to be a known cancer preventative. |
| drinking green tea. It appears that green tea has | | | | This news is, of course, quite exciting, but it goes |
| the power to prevent many forms of cancer, | | | | even further. There have also been studies that |
| including those of the digestive system, like gall | | | | suggest that green tea may be helpful in treating |
| bladder cancer and biliary tract cancer. | | | | cancer, too. Several studies have shown that |
| A study conducted in China attempted to | | | | when green tea was used as an adjunct therapy |
| establish a link between consumption of green tea | | | | along with traditional chemotherapy, the |
| and the prevention of these cancers. | | | | chemotherapy was more successful. |
| The study looked at a large segment of the | | | | Cancerous cells showed a higher concentration of |
| population. It included 627 patients with various | | | | the cancer drugs when green tea was |
| forms of biliary tract cancer (including gall bladder | | | | administered along with the medication. |
| cancer), 1037 cases with biliary stones, and 959 | | | | Some studies have even suggested that green |
| randomly selected control participants. | | | | tea may be beneficial in preventing the spread of |
| This study concluded that the women who were | | | | cancer. It appears that the growth of cancer cells |
| regular tea drinkers had (meaning that they drank | | | | slows significantly or even stops when patients of |
| at least one cup of green tea a day for at least | | | | certain cancers are given green tea in significant |
| six months) a significantly lower risk of biliary | | | | quantities. |
| tract cancer and gallbladder cancer - even if they | | | | Of course, green tea is not a magic bullet, and is |
| had gall bladder disease - than those who did not | | | | not designed to replace traditional cancer |
| drink green tea.* | | | | treatments. However, it certainly appears that |
| For men, the study found a slightly lower risk of | | | | green tea is an important tool for protecting your |
| cancer among the green tea drinkers; however it | | | | body against many types of cancer and other |
| was not enough to be considered significant. | | | | illnesses, and may even be an effective adjunct |
| In addition, it was found that a higher than | | | | treatment for those who already have cancer. |
| average number of the male participants in the | | | | So, add some green tea to your diet. It's delicious |
| study were smokers, so this may have skewed | | | | and you have nothing to lose. There are no side |
| the results, since smoking increases a person's | | | | effects and green tea is well tolerated even by |
| overall risk of cancer. | | | | the caffeine sensitive. Drinking green tea may be |
| Why Green Tea? | | | | the simplest thing you can do to protect your |
| Many of us may be surprised to find that green | | | | health. |