OVCA Information and Help - Green Tea and Ovarian Cancer

In recent years, scientists have given much attention to natural and alternative therapies for preventing and treating cancer. One of the most promising natural remedies is green tea. In study after study, green tea has been shown to prevent heart disease and several forms of cancer.

Green tea first gained notice because of the significantly lower incidence of many serious illnesses in the Asian culture. Asians consume large amounts of green tea, and have a far lower risk of heart disease and many forms of cancer. Consider, for example, the statistics on lung cancer. Japanese men have a significantly lower risk of both heart disease and lung cancer than American men, even though 75% of them are smokers.

Asian cultures also have lower risks of breast cancer and almost all forms of digestive system cancer. They are less likely to suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, too. It's almost certain that their green tea consumption has an effect on their health.

But, why is green tea such a health protector? Well, the answer seems to be in its powerful anti-oxidants. Research has proven that anti-oxidants are one of the most important keys to preventing cancer and many other diseases.

Green tea, like other forms of tea, comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea differs from black tea because of its processing. Black tea is fermented during processing; green tea is not. This difference is important because the lack of fermentation leaves the tea's anti-oxidants in their more natural state, which makes them healthier and more protective.

Anti- oxidants are important because they combat free radicals in our bodies. These free radicals are created when converting the food we eat to energy. If they are not kept in check, they damage our cells and DNA. This leads to a higher risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Anti-oxidants seem to have a scavenging effect on abnormal body cells, which scientists believe is the key to them preventing cancer. The anti-oxidants may rid the body of these rogue cells before they can develop into something more dangerous, like cancer cells.

There have been dozens of studies linking green tea with different forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and esophageal cancer. However, until recently, there has not been any evidence that green tea can prevent ovarian cancer.

However, one study reported by the UK Tea Council, over 60,000 Swedish women were examined and interviewed regarding their dietary habits, including their consumption of green tea. The women were between the ages of 40 and 76. The study followed the women for over 15 years, and concluded the following:

• The women who drank green tea on a regular basis were far less likely to develop ovarian cancer

• The more tea a woman consumed, the lower her risk. In fact, each additional cup of green tea per day above 2 decreased risk by an additional 18%

This is very promising news for women. Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women (not counting skin cancer). It is the fifth most common cancer death in women. It is estimated that about 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed this year and about 15,000 women will die this year from this form of cancer.

The rate of this cancer is reducing. The American Cancer Society reports that the incidence of ovarian cancer has gone down about 0.07 percent each year since 1985. Most victims of this form of cancer are over the age of 55, and it is slightly more common in Caucasian women than women of other ethnicities.

If green tea can help reduce the incidence of ovarian cancer, this is a simple way for women to protect their health. Reproductive cancers can be particularly frightening to women, and we are regularly looking for ways to prevent them.

It's important for all women to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Both of these are very important to preventing all kinds of disease. In addition, it's critical to have regular gynecological care. Women who regularly visit their gynecologist and get routine testing as often as the doctor recommends are taking important steps in protecting their reproductive health.

Many reproductive problems, including cervical and ovarian cancer often do not show symptoms until they are far advanced, when they are much more difficult to treat. So, seeing your doctor regularly can help ensure that problems are detected early on, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

And, try some green tea. There's no downside to adding green tea to your diet. It's healthy and delicious and has no side effects. You can drink it hot or cold, and today it's easy to find it in a variety of flavors.

In addition, green tea extract is available in tablet form, so that you can get an even higher dose of green tea each day. You certainly have nothing to lose by adding green tea to your diet and you may be gaining a long healthy life!