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Study: Tea may be key to protecting against some cancers
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| New research shows that tea may
prevent some cancers |
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September 15, 1998
Web posted at: 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT)
From CNN Food & Health Correspondent
Linda Ciampa
(CNN) -- You may want to add a cup of tea
to your daily menu. A new study shows tea -- either black or green, hot or cold -- may
prevent some cancers, especially oral cancers.
A researcher at the Chinese Academy of
Preventative Medicine in Beijing studied 59 patients with precancerous lesions in the
mouth. When patients drank or applied tea to the mouth, the precancerous cells stopped
growing and the lesions began to heal.
These findings were presented
Tuesday at the Second International Scientific Symposium on Tea & Human Health, in Washington.
Other
new research adds weight to the idea tea may work to slow the growth of
lung and colon cancers, although this has been shown with mice and not yet
with people. Earlier research has shown tea may protect
against heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants in tea may
be responsible for the protective effects. Antioxidants
stop free radicals which are harmful disease-causing compounds that
can damage cells in the body. While some say tea may
contain a stronger concentration of antioxidants than fruits
or vegetables, experts point out tea is no magic bullet and good health
requires a variety of healthy foods.
      Copyright © 1998 Tealand.
All rights reserved.
Revised:
May 11, 2008.
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