| |
Tea Cuts Risk of Ovarian Cancer
|
|
| |
Swedish researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm found that
drinking at least two cups a day reduced the risk by nearly 50 percent.
The study involving more than 60,000 women is the first to specifically
examine the relationship between consumption of the beverage and ovarian
cancer.
A total of 61,057 women aged between 40 and 76 were questioned about
their eating and drinking habits from 1987 to 1990.
The subjects were followed up until December 2004 to see if they got
cancer. A total of 301 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
The researchers said that 68 percent of the women reported drinking tea --
mainly black tea -- at least once a month.
The study found that women who drank two or more cups of tea a day had a
46 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer than those who did not drink tea.
Furthermore, women who drank one cup of tea daily had a 24 percent
reduced risk while those who had less than one cup had 18 percent less
risk.
The researchers concluded that tea consumption may lower the risk of
developing ovarian cancer. However they said more study was needed to
confirm their findings.
The study follows earlier research that showed that tea helps to protect
against several types of cancer, boost memory and lower bad cholesterol
levels.
Black Vs Green Tea
Since ancient times, tea has been used as both beverage and medicine.
Both black and green teas contain numerous active ingredients, including
polyphenols and flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants.
One class of flavonoids called catechins have recently become the focus of
widespread study for their anti-cancer potential.
Tea is the best source of catechins in the human diet, and green tea
contains about three times the quantity of catechins found in black tea. In
laboratory studies, green tea has been shown to slow or completely prevent
cancer development in colon, liver, breast and prostate cells.
Other studies involving green tea have shown similar protective effects in
tissues of the lung, skin and digestive tract.
Studies that track the diets of human subjects over several years, particularly
studies conducted in Asia, where green tea consumption is common, have
associated regular usage of green tea with lower risk for bladder, colon,
stomach, pancreatic and esophageal cancers.
Very recently, human clinical studies have begun to explore consumption of
green tea among cancer survivors. Preliminary results suggest that regular
consumption (3 or more cups/day) of green tea is associated with reduced
recurrence of early (Stage I) breast cancer.
Evidence for prevention of Stage II and III breast cancer recurrence is less
consistent. Note: Very high amounts of green tea components (usually
associated with over-dosage of green tea supplements) have been shown
to interact with drugs that affect blood clotting such as aspirin.
Don't Add Milk to Tea
Drinking black tea with milk may enhance the beverage's flavor. But
according to one study, adding milk blunts black tea's heart-health benefits.
Researchers say drinking straight black tea helps blood vessels in the
cardiovascular system to relax and widen, allowing blood to flow more freely.
But adding milk to tea does not have the same effect.
Why this is so is not yet clear. But another study found that adding even a
small amount of milk reduced the amount of catechins in black tea.
Catechins, which are found in nearly all teas, suppress the excessive
accumulation of body and liver fat and boost cardiovascular function.
So next time you drink black tea, forget the milk and drink it straight up as the
Chinese traditionally do. That way you preserve the beverage's health
benefits.
|
|
| |
|
