Today, being able to have cancer detected early and with so many treatment options, we see more and more people surviving a disease that was at one-time a death sentence. Of course, sitting down with your doctor, numerous questions would come to mind. You would want to know about the best treatments, whether traditional or nontraditional, especially if radiation and/or chemotherapy were to fail.
Nontraditional Cancer Treatments
Recently, new studies have been conducted specific to nontraditional cancer treatments. In the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a member of the task force on Alternative Therapies for breast cancer research in Canada discovered that a growing number of people with cancer are looking at alternative treatment options. Some of these include vitamins A, C, and E, as well as 714X, Essiac, Hydrazine, Sulfate, and Iscador. However, one of the more intriguing treatments is the consumption of green tea, which is delicious and available in many varieties.
Green Tea Basics
Green tea is made by frying or steaming leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. For Chinese green tea, the leaves are unfermented but they are dried. For more than 4,000 years, people in Asian countries have depended on green tea to calm stomach problems and work as a stimulant. Today, you can buy the best green tea from online tea companies or choose green tea supplements, both that provide medicinal properties.
Medicinal Properties of Green Tea
Most people are unaware just how powerful dried tealeaves are, especially because of the phytochemicals, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, plant alkaloids, minerals, and phenolic acids involved. Tea leave composition varies depending on the location harvested off the plant, the time of year harvested, and the way in which the leaves are processed. In addition, the level of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants are much higher in green tea than in Chinese black tea due to the process of fermentation.
Green Tea Side Effects
Because green tea is unfermented, it contains very little caffeine, only 10 to 80 milligrams although the way the tea is produced and stored would cause variances. We all know that caffeine works as a stimulant, known to cause the heart to pound and people to have trouble sleeping. For this reason, certain people can enjoy up to two cups of green tea whereas other types of tea would not be recommended. This include pregnant women, heart patients, and even mothers who are nursing.
Preventing Cancer
As far as cancer prevention from drinking green tea, numerous reputable studies show that this type of tea does in fact prevent and fight cancer of various types. The individual on the Canadian taskforce for breast cancer fond that cancer of the digestive system were extremely responsive to green tea, actually reducing risk of developing this form of cancer. This finding led to more studies specifically for epidemiological experts and they all agree that drinking about three cups of the best green tea daily can actually prevent the development of cancer.
Laboratory Findings
Then for treating existing cancer, studies show that green tea appears to be an excellent alternative treatment for cancer. While the number of laboratory studies is limited and more research is needed, early findings are positive. The challenge is that studies involving animals have provided great insight but no laboratory studies on people have yet been done so again, more research is needed for full conclusion.
One study in particular has been given a lot of attention, which involved applying green tea oil to the skin of a mouse with skin cancer. The result was the known carcinogens stopped from growing/spreading. Then, additional studies have shown that green tea in various forms can help stop tumor growth, as well as reduce the number of cancerous tumors found in laboratory animals that were exposed to different agents known to cause cancer.
Studies also showed that in some animals given both green tea and green tea extract, cancer cells were stopped from metastasizing. Other results have indicated that green tea extracts in particular were able to stop chromosomal abnormalities, those known to cause cancer, from developing. Even cancerous tumors found in the prostate and breast were dramatically reduced in size.
Green Tea Antioxidants
Because green tea is unfermented, antioxidant level is high, especially epigallocatechin gallate, otherwise known as EGCG. Experts discovered that EGCG is capable of inhibiting cell replication enzymes, as well as prevent cell adhesion. In addition, this antioxidant can interrupt communication pathways so cell division is prevented. Of all known antioxidants, it appears that EGCG it the most powerful and effective.
The bottom line is that research to date is very promising with experts from around the world believing that green tea is in fact a great treatment option for cancer. To confirm the findings and identify other vital information, more research is essential. After all, researchers still need to know the types of cancer that are impacted most by green tea and green tea extracts. Remember, in addition to preventing and fighting cancer, drinking green tea is a wonderful experience since the flavor is delicious. Green tea is refreshing, soothing, and completely safe.
