Question: Is green tea effective in helping to fight cancer?
Dr. Bruce Dan: It all depends on what you mean by fighting cancer. Green tea, which is rich in the protective chemicals called antioxidants, has been shown to slow tumor growth in animals. It’s not known if green tea can help treat people with cancer, but studies to answer that question are now underway. There’s stronger evidence for green tea’s preventive powers. Studies have found that green tea drinkers in Japan and China are less likely to develop stomach and throat cancers than those who don’t drink it. It’s important to note that not all teas are created equal when it comes to your health. Black tea, the kind of tea most Americans drink, has less than half the antioxidants found in green tea. And here’s something else; green tea may pack a bigger health punch than another beverage that’s received a lot of positive press. Red wine. Research has found that the main antioxidant in green tea to be twice as strong as that in wine. So next time you want to drink to your health, instead of going to happy hour, you may want to head to the tea room.
