Green Tea: A Dose a Day May Keep Cancer Away

Green tea is as common in today's society as coffee and regular iced tea.  Because of the health benefits of this ancient Chinese product, green tea sales are at a record high based on the belief of the varied health benefits green tea provides to the body.  For many Americans, green tea is a common staple within a morning breakfast meal or as a bedtime snack.  During the holiday season, green tea is often served as an addition to holiday desserts.   So, what has made green tea the new trend in health food?

Green tea lends its recent spike in sales to the component, EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate.  Known as a common health element found in green tea, EGCG is an anti-oxidant believed to prevent the growth of cancer cells without harming healthy body tissue.   Green tea, unlike other chinese teas, is unique in that the processing of the tea leaves involves baking and steaming without the use of oxidation.  In bypassing the oxidation process, the levels of EGCG remain at optimal levels, providing the most effective health benefit.  

Additionally, in the treatment of disease, Chinese green tea is believed to improve the symptoms associated with conditions such as cancer, arthritis, cholesterol, infections, cardiovascular disease and immune function response.    Especially worthy of note is the research which indicates green tea produces a compound which inhibits the growth of cancer cells within the body.   Thus, green tea has become an alternative medicinal approach in the treatment of some forms of cancer.  In addition to these disease oriented health benefits, green tea is also believed, through its bacterial fighting ability, to prevent dental gum diseases and may improve dietary weight loss when combined with caffeine.