Green Tea's Record Against Cancer Grows

Green tea's reputation as a powerhouse against cancer keeps growing. Now, scientists have new insights on how green tea thwarts cancer.

Green tea extract has shown promise against cancer in numerous studies. Those findings came from animal studies and epidemiologic research, which tracks a disease's occurrence in a large population of people.

In other words, the human studies on green tea are mainly based on observation and don't prove that tea is responsible for results. But as one of the world's most popular drinks, tea is widely considered healthy, whether it's green, black, or white tea. However, green tea and green tea supplements generally contain higher amounts of disease-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols than black tea.

For instance, studies on mice showed that green tea helped prevent prostate cancer growth. Green tea extract is also reported to induce cancer cell death and starve tumors by curbing the growth of new blood vessels that feed them.

But exactly how that happens isn't clear. Tea's antioxidants may protect against some forms of cancer. They may also help prevent heart disease by relaxing blood vessels and preventing blood clots. But the precise ways green tea affects cancer aren't fully understood.

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD