Teas: Green Tea and Black tea contain certain antioxidants known as polyphenols (catechins) which prevent cancer cells from dividing. Green tea is best, followed by our more common black tea (herbal teas do not show this benefit). According to a report in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, these polyphenols that are abundant in green tea, red wine and olive oil, and protect against various types of cancer.
OK so what does a polyphenol actually do? They neutralize free radicals. OK, so what the heck is a free radical? A free radical is a molecule that circulates in the body and causes damage to cell structure. Where the heck do free radicals come from in the first place?
Free radicals are natural by-products of everyday processes in human cells. Unfortunately, you can accumulate high levels of them from air pollution, tobacco smoke, UV radiation and other environmental sources. Free radicals contain a rogue electron, making them extremely reactive and destructive. They can trigger cancer cell division.
Green tea has a special kind of polyphenals called Catechins. One of these, EGCC keeps new blood vessels from forming on cancer cells. When you drink green tea EGCC spreads through the body by means of capillary vessels. These capillaries surround and feed every cell in the body. EGCC settles on the surface of cells and blocks the switches or receptors whose function is to set off the signal that allows penetration of neighboring tissue by foreign cells such as cancer cells. It also blocks the ability of cancer cells to create new blood vessels for themselves. Once receptors are blocked they no longer respond to the orders that cancer cells send out through inflammation factors to invade tissue and make new vessels needed for tumor growth. The sneaky little bastards are stopped in their tracks.
Green tea also acts as a detoxifier for the body by activating the liver to eliminate cancerous toxins from the body more rapidly. Some studies have shown that pairing green tea with dark chocolate increases the cancer fighting ability of both green tea and the dark chocolate. Didn't know dark chocolate was good for you? Come back tomorrow and learn why.
Next post: Dark Chocolate as breast cancer medicine?
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