Green Tea May Reduce Prostate Cancer

By HelloLife

Prostate cancer is a disease that affects almost 200,000 men in the United States annually. It is the second largest killer of U.S. males, with almost 30,000 men expected to die from prostate cancer in 2009. The current recommendation is that all men over the age of 50 be tested for prostate cancer and complications each year. Of course, there are more healthy lifestyle approaches that men can take in the meantime to help defend against prostate cancer. One health benefactor may be drinking green tea.

Originating from a plant called Camellia sinensis, green tea has a history of more than 5,000 years as an ingredient in Chinese medicine. Among its known abilities, green tea can aid in stopping headaches, dissolving blood clots, speeding up metabolism and weight loss, reducing cholesterol, improving cognitive performance in people with Alzheimer's disease, and relieving depression. Recently, improving cases of prostate cancer has been added to that list. Scientists at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center conducted a small clinical trial involving 26 men, all of whom were diagnosed with prostate cancer and prepared to undergo prostatectomy surgery. The men were all between the ages of 40 and 70.

During the study, each participant took 12 daily cups of green tea for about 34 days. On the day before their surgeries, the men were examined. Compared with the evaluations from before the trial started, all of the men displayed decreases in the biomarkers for prostate cancer, some by as much as one third. The research team felt the results indicated green tea's power to slow the progression of prostate cancer, though it is doubtful that it can cure the cancer. Still, the drink is a viable preventive measure. An Italian study, which analyzed the effects of green tea on men with a condition that tends to lead to prostate cancer, came to similar conclusions. It is the polyphenols in green tea that are the active ingredient thought to have cancer fighting capabilities. The researchers paid special attention to how much of the polyphenol the participants ingested. There had been a concern before the study began that the men participating would experience negative side effects in the liver. Fortunately, the men showed no such problem, and the scientists stand confidently behind their findings.

According to WebMD, one of the reasons that green tea offers so many wonderful health benefits is that the leaves are less processed than other tea leaves, such as black and oolong teas. To make green tea, the leaves of the Camellia sinensis are withered and steamed, but not fermented. This allows them to retain more of their healing properties. The best way to access the power of green tea is to drink it. Taking the polyphenols in the form of a supplement could work, but may cause complications if you have liver trouble. Adding a cup or two of the soothing beverage to your day will certainly complement a healthy and varied diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein.