The health benefits of green tea are becoming well-known and accepted in most medical circles. There is a common notion that the consumption of this beverage can reduce the risk of breast cancer in women. It is worth exploring the evidence that supports this claim and the findings that refute it.
Various animal studies, with most being on mice, suggest that the powerful antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), can slow the development of breast tumors. One study on groups of mice with injected breast tumor cells has shown that in those treated with EGCG the tumors shrunk by up to 66%.
There have been many clinical studies on human patients as well. In a study of 427 women with different stages of breast cancer, researchers discovered that those who consumed the highest amounts of green tea had the smallest spread of the tumor. Another study in Japan included women who had been treated for this type of cancer. The ones who consumed high amounts of green tea per day were up to 50% less likely to develop breast cancer again.
However, some of the latest studies show no direct relationship between the consumption of green tea and the reduction of the risk of breast cancer. The study carried out in Japan is one of the largest ever made. It involved 54,000 women with different levels of consumption of green tea, ranging from less than 1 cup a day to over 10 cups a day. During the time of the study 581 women were diagnosed with the condition.
The researchers found that the risk of breast cancer development in women drinking little tea and those drinking a lot of tea did not differ. They concluded that the consumption of green tea does not reduce the risk of the condition, irrespective of the number of cups of the drink consumed per day.
There are other studies that support these findings. Another study that led to the same conclusion, however, showed surprising results. It turned out that even though the consumption of the drink did not reduce the risk in general, the women under the age of 50 who drank three or more cups per day were 37% less likely to develop the condition.
Overall, it is not known whether and how much green tea can reduce your risk of breast cancer. One thing is certain though, its consumption will not do you harm, but will bring you a lot of other health benefits.
James has been writing articles about health issues for over 5 years. Please visit his latest website about cancer at the Cancer Information Center, with help relating to the Benefits of Green Tea As Related to Cancer, with straight talk for anyone affected by this disease.
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