You've probably heard it a hundred times, "the results are inconclusive". This is not entirely true because tests with laboratory animals are showing positive results connecting green tea and cancer reduction, with a few indications of prevention. Human clinical trials are a horse of a different color.
I'll start with the human clinical trials because you are human and want to know how they affect you first and foremost. If you aren't familiar with green tea, take a minute to look up its health benefits in other articles I've published.
The polyphenol compounds found in green tea have already been proven to be powerful antioxidants that scavenge free radicals in the human body.
The basic problem with human research is that no two people are alike, except possibly twins. However, research can't be conducted on just two people and get any statistically significant results.
What I have uncovered is that inconsistent results in human trials are due to variables such as:
- Differences in brewing or the strength of extracts consumed
- Different rates and methods of consumption
- Studies using different types of teas
- Varying leaf production and curing methods (it's produced in over 30 countries)
- Varying bioavailability of the compounds
- Genetic variability of the people being tested
- Variation in people's commitment to the use of tobacco and alcohol
- Personal risk factors of physical activity and weight status
- Studies require vast numbers of people over several months or years
So now you can see why it's difficult to obtain statistical results that you can publish in a medical journal as hard factual evidence.
There is an obvious lack of chatter saying there is no evidence of a health effect with green tea and cancer. In fact there are many clinical studies showing some positive effects of polyphenols in combating cancer. They just aren't definitive and statistically viable for one reason or another.
Studies with these polyphenols in animals have shown that the antioxidant compounds inhibit tumor growth in many organ sites, including but not limited to:
- Skin
- Lungs
- Mouth
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Colon
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Mammary glands
For research studies, it's easier to produce a specific cancer in similar strains of mice and feed them the same amounts of placebo or polyphenols. The added benefit is that you can control their tobacco and alcohol habits more closely.
Seriously now, when you can control all or most all factors in the test you can obtain results that are reliable. Early clinical animal studies have been showing that green tea can prevent cancer and control the growth of and actually kill cancer cells.
Research indicates that average green tea consumption of two to five cups per day is effective. Caffeinated or decaffeinated is not an issue, and there doesn't appear to be any problem if the source of the compounds is from fresh brewed or extracts from the leaves.
My conclusion is that the green tea and cancer cure discussion is not really the point. Whether it cures cancer or not, it is proven that green tea compounds promote whole body health.
This ancient beverage has a long history of promoting better health for the Chinese and Japanese populations over many centuries. What better clinical trial could be produced?
I think you should consider consuming green tea freshly brewed, as an extract in a capsule, or as an extract in a balanced nutritional supplement. The health benefits for the entire body from its antioxidants are very compelling.
A healthier lifestyle can be yours if you eat a healthful diet, get regular exercise, and consume some form of the powerful ingredients that green tea provides.
To learn more about the supplements my family and I take, please visit my website.
Take a minute to visit now at http://nutritional-vitamin.com/
J. Peter Crane is an advocate of living a better life through better nutrition. Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, he'd rather spend money on good food and nutritional supplements than medical bills.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Peter_Crane
No comments:
Post a Comment