Some of the most promising cancer research going on today
involves the use of green tea and its ability to prevent cancer and even treat
cancer in patients who have already been diagnosed with the disease.
Researchers are examining many possibilities for how green tea might be used,
and working to determine the cancer types for which it holds the most promise.
Over the last few years, scientists have learned a great
deal about the importance of a diet rich in anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants are a
powerful tool in slowing down the aging process and preventing disease. They
are even more important than even with the number of processed foods we
consume. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants, as is dark
chocolate and green tea. Coffee is also a source of anti-oxidants, though it is
not nearly as rich in them as green tea.
The process our bodies go through to convert our food to
energy creates free radicals each day. Free radicals are oxygen containing
molecules that damage our cells and DNA. If we don't combat them, the make us
age more quickly, they contribute to the development of blocked arteries and
the make us more susceptible to the diseases and problems of aging.
So, it's certain that we all need to consume a high level of
anti-oxidants as part of our everyday diet. But, of particular interest are the
anti-oxidants in green tea. Asian cultures consume a large amount of green tea,
and have espoused its healing properties for centuries. And, it just so happens
that they have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart disease.
There are, of course, other differences between Asian
culture and ours. Notably, we are far more likely to be overweight; and
research has shown us that obesity is a significant risk factor for many
diseases including cancer and heart disease. However, one other interesting
fact; Asian cultures, particularly Japanese men are far more likely to smoke
than we are, yet they still have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart
disease.
So, green tea is of significant importance in our quest to
live longer and be healthier. There are hundreds of studies that have shown
that green tea is a good cancer preventative and can increase the effectiveness
of cancer treatments.
One important study is linked to skin cancer. According to
the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma
is the most deadly form of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin cancer cases are
melanoma, it causes more deaths than any other type of skin cancer.
The number of new cases of melanoma is on the rise in the
US- an estimated 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2006, and about 8000
people will die from melanoma in the US this year. Nonmelanoma is extremely
common. It is estimated that about one million people develop nonmelanoma
cancer each year; this is about the same number of people who contract all
other types of cancer combined. However, people rarely die from nonmelanoma -
only about 1000 each year in the US.
Since skin cancer is so prevalent in our country, it's
critical that we spend time and money researching how we can treat this cancer.
Of course, skin cancer is, in part, preventable. So, as part of a healthy
lifestyle we should be diligent about protecting ourselves from the sun,
because this is the most important aspect of preventing both types of skin
cancer.
To reduce your risk of skin cancer, be sure that you are
always protected from the sun, even on cloudy days, and even in the winter.
Cover as much of your body as possible with clothing, and use sunscreen with an
SPF of 15 or higher on any areas that you cannot cover. Be sure to follow the
directions on sunscreen closely; many people do not use enough sunscreen and do
not reapply it often enough.
As scientists are researching ways to prevent and treat skin
cancer, the results involving green tea are promising. One particular study reported
by the Alternative Medicine Review showed excellent results in skin cancer
prevention and treatment in mice with the use of green tea both applied
topically and given orally.
In this study, mice were exposed to about seven different
kinds of carcinogens, all of which are known to cause or contribute to skin
cancer. The mice were divided into groups. Some of the groups were treated with
green tea by substituting it for their drinking water. Others were treated
topically with green tea extract. Some of the groups of mice were already
suffering from skin cancer, as well.
The research was conducted so that mice undergoing exposure
to each different carcinogen were treated with green tea in both forms. For
example, some of the mice being exposed to UVB rays were treated with only oral
green tea, while others were treated with only topical green tea extract.
The research concluded that all of the mice benefited from
the green tea treatment, whether it was given orally or applied topically. In
every group, the green tea was effective at preventing skin cancer. The study
found that green tea applied topically seems to scavenge and destroy skin cells
that are likely to become cancerous before they can mutate.
The green tea, whether given orally or applied topically,
slowed down the cancer growth in the mice that were already infected. In
addition, green tea given orally seemed to cause some regression of existing
skin cancer.
Of course, these results are very promising. If this
research is a good indicator of how green tea might work in humans, as well,
then topically applied green tea may become the new trend in skin products. In
addition, these findings support other findings that conclude that drinking
green tea is effective in preventing and treating many forms of cancer.
The next step, of course, is to conduct human trials to see
if the same results prove true. It certainly seems that we have enough
information to suggest that green tea should be part of everyone's diet for its
ability to slow down aging and prevent disease.
The most exciting news from this study is the idea that we
might benefit dramatically from the simple step of applying a form of green tea
to our skin. Addition of green tea to our sunscreens, lotions and moisturizers
could have a dramatic effect on the number of skin cancer diagnosed each year.
And, even for those already diagnosed with skin cancer, green tea applied to
the skin might prove to be an effective treatment to kill the cancer cells, or
at least slow down their progression.
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