Study: green tea potent in fighting cancer

Washington Times ^ | Aug. 5 2003 | UPI

[yonif]

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A new study indicates green tea's ability to fight cancer is even more potent and varied than scientists have suspected.

Researchers say they've discovered chemicals in green tea that shut down one of the key molecules that tobacco relies upon to cause cancer. It's a find that could help explain why people who drink green tea are less likely to develop cancer.

[martin_fierro]

Yeah, but this stuff ain't worth sh*t:

[areafiftyone]

Ya know Al Gore knows alot about Iced Tea! ;-)

[Lazamataz]

I'm a greentee fan.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[DannyTN]

I'm beginning to think that participation in studies offer potent anti-cancer protection.

[nickcarraway]

It has long been known that green tea conatains flavonoid phytochemicals catechin compounds. The four main polyphenol catechins in green tea include gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG protects the heart by preventing lipid oxidation. EGCG is also believed to supress tumor growth, and retard enzymes that lead to the spread of cancer. As well, EGCG is thought to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and even aid weight loss.

[Post Toasties]

Any brands of green tea low in tannic acid? Too much tannic acid makes drinking a lot of tea objectionable to me, although I'm ok with a little once in a while.

[Post Toasties]

Any brands of green tea low in tannic acid? Too much tannic acid makes drinking a lot of tea objectionable to me, although I'm ok with a little once in a while.

[netmilsmom]

>>I'm a greentee fan. <<

Me too! I make all iced tea in the house with green tea.

(Ping to the smokers list)

[veronica]

Does green tea contain caffeine?

[nickcarraway]

Yes, green tea contains caffeine, but not too much. Probably between 8 and 36 miligrams per cup. (probably about 12 mg average) That's about half of what black tea has. (of course, there is a big range.) And coffee has between 100mg and 200mg. Basically it's not very much, and you can find decaffeinated green tea as well.

[veronica]

Thanks! :)

[ditto h]

Ya know Al Gore knows alot about iced tea

Of course, he invented it.

[nickcarraway]

What is it about the tannins in the tea that bothers you? Technically, tea contains tannins, but not actual tannic acid. (C14 H10 O9 is tannic acid vs. C20 H20 O9 for tea) The tannins are actually one of the benefical substances in the tea.I'm not sure if there is tea low in tannins.

[nickcarraway]

I think the stronger the tea, the more tannins it has, so you might just try making weaker tea.

[nickcarraway]

You are welcome. Thanks for the Daniel Pipes link, i didn't know about that.

[nickcarraway]

This is a really confusing subject, because you will see many articles referring to ``tannic acid'' in tea. The confused terminology has really made it difficult to understand:

Tannins

Tea Polyphenols were formerly referred to as tannins or tannic acids due to the similarities in the chemical structure. This unfortunately left many misguided notions about the effect of tea liquors upon human intestines. Chemist group compounds in to 'families' on account of common features in the synthesis of the molecules; this loose grouping does not imply that the compounds within it are identical or even broadly similar in all characteristics and effects. As an example, both strychnine and morphine are alkaloids and have common structural features but the action on the human body is completely different - strychnine is a powerful stimulant and morphine a powerful hypnotic.

Vegetable tannins are a large chemical family and some of them are referred to as tannic acids. These compounds possess the property of hardening animal tissues and turning hide into leather.

Tea polyphenols on the other hand are called catechins and are responsible for many of the health benefits associated with tea, such as anti-hypercholestarolemic action, anti-hyperglycemic action, fat reduction action, anti-hypertensive action, anti- cancer action and many other health promoting effects. Current scientific literature points to the fact that catechins are biochemically different to tannins; certainly the impact of tannins and catechins is completely different.

Tea does not contain tannins or tannic acids, has harmless and low caffeine content. Tea also contains no calories and is sodium free.

Tea began as a medicine and over time, became a beverage to be enjoyed every day, throughout the day. The Chinese long recognised the medicinal value of tea, and this awareness spread to Europe and the Americas only in the 16th century. Louis XIV in the late 1600s drank tea to prevent vertigo and 'the vapours', Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661) to cure his gout. More recently, scientific research has lent substance to the 'wonderful tales' of the magic of tea. Tea is a wonderful beverage, truly nature's gift - today cheaper than mineral water and increasingly proven to be a panacea for many of today's life threatening diseases.

[Post Toasties]

Hi -

I'm a big coffee drinker at work & several years ago I tried switching to (brown) tea in order to cut down on caffeine.

So, I started drinking 3-5 cups of tea a day at work for about a week when it got to the point that the tannin component flavorwise started to dominate the tea drinking experience to my perception. On top of that, my mouth and throat started to feel a bit, er, maybe 'leathery'? It's a little hard to describe the experience exactly, but I had to switch back to coffee because the tea actually started tasting unpleasant due to this, and coffee takes a lot more than 3 cups a day to give me a sour stomach, which occasionally happens when I overdo it. Also, now that I'm getting older, I'm a little concerned about physiological effects of too much caffeine & also don't want to switch to sugar laden drinks.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

What brand of tea were you drinking? Perhaps it would help if you switched brands and/or brewed it weaker?

As an aside, the tannic acid in a cheap, strong tea works great on canker sores. Just wet the teabag and put it against the lips or gum. Salt is supposed to work too but I'm not that masochistic;-)