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GREEN TEA AND LUNG CANCER
It's been called the "Asian Paradox." Why do people living in Asia, where
tobacco consumption is high, have some of the world's lowest rates of lung cancer
death? In Korea, for example, the rate of lung cancer mortality per 100,000 men is less than 40, compared to 67
in U.S. men. Yet
37 percent of Korean adults smoke, compared to 27 percent of U.S. adults. Why
are the Koreans so lucky? Perhaps it's because they drink plenty of green tea.
While epidemiological studies of the tea/lung cancer connection have provided mixed results (perhaps
because of differences in tea preparation), most animal studies show that green
tea strongly prevents the development of cancerous tumors of the lung. Researchers believe it does so by:
- quenching free radicals
- protecting the DNA from damage
- inhibiting cancer cell division (cell cycle arrest)
- reducing the growth of new blood vessels
- inducing apoptosis ("cell suicide")
To learn more, click on these key lung cancer studies and expert
opinions:
KEY HUMAN STUDIES
- 1) Green Tea's Lung Cancer Fighting Ability May
Be Tied to Specific Genetics
A 2005 case-control study found that green tea may significantly reduce the
risk of developing lung cancer in those with a specific genetic makeup that makes them
more susceptible to oxidative stress.
2) Green Tea Guards Against Lung Cancer in Nonsmokers
A 2001 case-control study presented in the journal Epidemiology found
that drinking green tea reduced the risk of developing lung cancer in
nonsmoking women.
KEY ANIMAL STUDIES
- 1) Green Tea Slows Growth
of Lung Cancer and Speeds Cancer Cell Death
2) Green Tea Reduces Number of Lung Tumors in
Lab Animals
3) Green Tea Extract Reduces Lung Cancer
Incidence and Improves Survival Time
4) Green Tea Polyphenols Reduce Number of Lung
Tumors
5) Green Tea Reduces Incidence and Number of Lung
Tumors
6) Green Tea and EGCg Reduce Number of
NNK-Induced Lung Tumors
KEY LABORATORY STUDIES
- 1) Green Tea Protects Cells From
Cancer-Causing DNA Damage
2) Green Tea Inhibits Growth of Lung Cancer Cells
EXPERT OPINION
- 1) Population Studies Suggest that Green Tea
Fights Several Types of Cancer
2) Green Tea's Anti-Lung Cancer Effects Are
Strong in Animal
Studies
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Nadine Taylor, M.S., R.D. presents
GreenTeaLibrary.com, the most comprehensive collection of scientific
information describing the many health benefits and properties of green tea.
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