Can Green Tea Treat Skin Cancer?

Green Tea used a topical ointment can greatly reduce the risk of getting skin cancer. This is especially useful for those with sensitive skin and those always out in the sun. Some of the most promising cancer research going on today involves the use of green tea and its ability to prevent cancer and even treat cancer in patients who have already been diagnosed with the disease. Researchers are examining many possibilities for how green tea might be used, and working to determine the cancer types for which it holds the most promise. Over the last few years, scientists have learned a great deal about the importance of a diet rich in anti-oxidants.

Anti-oxidants are a powerful tool in slowing down the aging process and preventing disease. They are even more important than even with the number of processed foods we consume. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in anti-oxidants, as is dark chocolate and green tea. These are also great nutrients to have on deck. Coffee is also a source of anti-oxidants, though it is not nearly as rich in them as green tea. The process our bodies go through to convert our food to energy creates free radicals each day. Free radicals are oxygen containing molecules that damage our cells and DNA. If we don't combat them, the make us age more quickly, they contribute to the development of blocked arteries and the make us more susceptible to the diseases and problems of aging. So, it's certain that we all need to consume a high level of anti-oxidants as part of our everyday diet. But, of particular interest are the anti-oxidants in green tea. Asian cultures consume a large amount of green tea, and have espoused its healing properties for centuries. And, it just so happens that they have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart disease. There are, of course, other differences between Asian culture and ours.

Notably, we are far more likely to be overweight; and research has shown us that obesity is a significant risk factor for many diseases including cancer and heart disease. However, one other interesting fact; Asian cultures, particularly Japanese men are far more likely to smoke than we are, yet they still have a much lower incidence of cancer and heart disease. So, green tea is of significant importance in our quest to live longer and be healthier. There are hundreds of studies that have shown that green tea is a good cancer preventative and can increase the effectiveness of cancer treatments. One important study is linked to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. While only 4% of skin cancer cases are melanoma, it causes more deaths than any other type of skin cancer. The number of new cases of melanoma is on the rise in the US- an estimated 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2006, and about 8000 people will die from melanoma in the US this year.

Nonmelanoma is extremely common. It is estimated that about one million people develop nonmelanoma cancer each year; this is about the same number of people who contract all other types of cancer combined. However, people rarely die from nonmelanoma only about 1000 each year in the US. Since skin cancer is so prevalent in our country, it's critical that we spend time and money researching how we can treat this cancer. Of course, skin cancer is, in part, preventable. So, as part of a healthy lifestyle we should be diligent about protecting ourselves from the sun, because this is the most important aspect of preventing both types of skin cancer. To reduce your risk of skin cancer, be sure that you are always protected from the sun, even on cloudy days, and even in the winter. Cover as much of your body as possible with clothing, and use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher on any areas that you cannot cover. Be sure to follow the directions on sunscreen closely; many people do not use enough sunscreen and do not reapply it often enough. As scientists are researching ways to prevent and treat skin cancer, the results involving green tea are promising. One particular study reported by the Alternative Medicine Review showed excellent results in skin cancer prevention and treatment in mice with the use of green tea both applied topically and given orally*. In this study, mice were exposed to about seven different kinds of carcinogens, all of which are known to cause or contribute to skin cancer. The mice were divided into groups. Some of the groups were treated with green tea by substituting it for their drinking water. Others were treated topically with green tea extract. Some of the groups of mice were already suffering from skin cancer, as well. The research was conducted so that mice undergoing exposure to each different carcinogen were treated with green tea in both forms. For example, some of the mice being exposed to UVB rays were treated with only oral green tea, while others were treated with only topical green tea extract. The research concluded that all of the mice benefited from the green tea treatment, whether it was given orally or applied topically. In every group, the green tea was effective at preventing skin cancer. The study found that green tea applied topically seems to scavenge and destroy skin cells that are likely to become cancerous before they can mutate. The green tea, whether given orally or applied topically, slowed down the cancer growth in the mice that were already infected. In addition, green tea given orally seemed to cause some regression of existing skin cancer. Of course, these results are very promising. If this research is a good indicator of how green tea might work in humans, as well, then topically applied green tea may become the new trend in skin products. In addition, these findings support other findings that conclude that drinking green tea is effective in preventing and treating many forms of cancer. The next step, of course, is to conduct human trials to see if the same results prove true. It certainly seems that we have enough information to suggest that green tea should be part of everyone's diet for its ability to slow down aging and prevent disease. The most exciting news from this study is the idea that we might benefit dramatically from the simple step of applying a form of green tea to our skin. Addition of green tea to our sunscreens, lotions and moisturizers could have a dramatic effect on the number of skin cancer diagnosed each year. And, even for those already diagnosed with skin cancer, green tea applied to the skin might prove to be an effective treatment to kill the cancer cells, or at least slow down their progression.

Reasons why Green Tea is better than Coffee in the morning

Here's an interesting run down by Livestrong about some of the strengths of both Green Tea and Coffee. Each have benefits, but Green Tea definitely edges out. You'll see why in a sec: American adults consume an estimated 146 billion cups of coffee each year, almost three times more than tea, according to the CNN Health website. Tea has a reputation for conferring more health benefits than coffee, but in recent years more information has supported the health benefits of coffee, which may be good news for coffee-addicted Americans. Antioxidants Green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than coffee, but since Americans drink more coffee than tea, they are consuming more antioxidants from coffee. In fact, coffee is the No. 1 source of antioxidants for Americans, according to professor Joe A. Vinson of the chemistry department at the University of Scranton, who has studied coffee in depth. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that result from the body's normal metabolism and the consumption of toxins that damage cells. Free radicals contribute to the aging process and numerous health problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Transportation Solutions Commuting to work is taking less work: Siemens Mobility Solutions. Caffeine Many people drink coffee and tea to benefit from the increased alertness that caffeine provides. While coffee provides three times more caffeine than green tea, according to the Mayo Clinic website, the type of stimulation is much more extreme and has side effects including a sharper crash when the caffeine wears off. Green tea has a milder stimulation effect, and the dissipation of the chemical is hardly noticeable. Disease Prevention Green tea consumption is associated with the lowered risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Coffee consumption is associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease and liver disease. However, it is premature to recommend coffee consumption for disease prevention based on this evidence, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Demographics Comparing health benefits of coffee and tea is not as simple as comparing the two beverages. The effect of the beverages on people is most accurately studied by analyzing human trials. However, according to Vinson, "the problem with a human study is everybody's different." Isolating coffee's effects from other habits or lifestyle choices linked with coffee drinking may be impossible. For example, in Scotland, coffee drinkers make more money and have better general health than tea drinkers. According to market researchers at Experian Simmons, in the U.S., 70 percent of households with an income of $150,000 or higher are coffee drinkers, while only 54 percent of households earning less than $25,000 annually drink coffee. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/362226-overall-which-is-better-green-tea-or-coffee/#ixzz1zD0YihtL Source: Livestrong