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[Santo]

Anti-Cancer Compound in Green Tea Identified

Tue Mar 15,12:13 AM ET
By Patricia Reaney

LONDON (Reuters) - Spanish and British scientists have discovered how green tea helps to prevent certain types of cancer.

Researchers at the University of Murcia in Spain (UMU) and the John Innes Center (JIC) in Norwich, England have shown that a compound called EGCG in green tea prevents cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme.

"We have shown for the first time that EGCG, which is present in green tea at relatively high concentrations, inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which is a recognized, established target for anti-cancer drugs, " Professor Roger Thorneley, of JIC, told Reuters.

"This is the first time, to our knowledge, a known target for an anti-cancer drug has been identified as being inhibited by EGCG," he added.

Green tea has about five times as much EGCG as regular tea, studies have shown. It decreased rates of certain cancers but scientists were not sure what compounds were involved or how they worked. Nor had they determined how much green tea a person would have to drink to have a beneficial effect, he said.

Drink up kids!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&e=4&u=/nm/health_greentea_dc

 

[HooDoo]

This study just comes when I'm digging oolong tea more and more, therefore drinking green tea less and less.

 

[sefskillz]

just 8 months until another study decides it's bad for us

 

[aparisi2274]

just 8 months until another study decides it's bad for us

exactly. just like eggs.

First they are good, then they are bad, then they are good again. I dont even know where they are now. Anyone know? Eggs? Good or bad?

 

[sc0la]

Cue hundreds of worthless "EGCG suppliments" though, for the record, I always thought green tea to be a powerful antioxident anyway, it just tastes like healing... whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean.

 

[demon]

Cue hundreds of worthless "EGCG suppliments" though, for the record, I always thought green tea to be a powerful antioxident anyway, it just tastes like healing... whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean.

I tastes like healing!

 

[Brian Fellows]

Tea is for panseys and cancer is for the weak.

 

[iced lightning]

exactly. just like eggs.

First they are good, then they are bad, then they are good again. I dont even know where they are now. Anyone know? Eggs? Good or bad?

First off, you're comparing green tea and eggs. I understand what you're trying to get at, but I've never read anything negative about consuming green tea, while it should be common knowledge that eggs contain quite a bit of cholesterol (the yolk, anyways). Sure, they have important nutrients but there are healthier options if you don't want to consume that much cholesterol.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

Tea: The official drink of girls

 

[Mermandala]

Like women, children, homosexuals, and cancer patients I am weak and deserve to die. This is why I drink Green Tea daily. GAF is kind.

 

[miyuru]

I think how this works is, a key difference between cancer and normal cells is that cancer cells have to synthesize their own folate, while our cells can just take it in straight up. It seems like this substance in Green Tea inhibits that process, so the cancer cells' growth is really reduced.

Rawk!

 

[Kuro Madoushi]

Hmmm...tell that to my grandpa (Chinese family) who drank green tea or some other tea for his entire life and just recently was diagnosed with brain cancer...

lesse...my grandma from Hong Kong had stomach cancer, and another grandma had lung cancer (though she was a smoker)

 

[teh_pwn]

Old news.

http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/research/abouttea/benefitsgt.php

"Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. "


They've know for a long time that green tea is extremely healthy for you. All teas have the antioxidant EGCG, it's just the way green tea is made that it doesn't damage it.

EGCG is one of the most powerful know antioxidants. It'll boost the health of every cell in your body. And it'll slow aging.


Celestial Seasonings is one of the best brands in terms of EGCG content. They also have some nice flavors.

Lipton is 2nd, but plain green tea tastes like muddy water.

 

[aparisi2274]

First off, you're comparing green tea and eggs. I understand what you're trying to get at, but I've never read anything negative about consuming green tea, while it should be common knowledge that eggs contain quite a bit of cholesterol (the yolk, anyways). Sure, they have important nutrients but there are healthier options if you don't want to consume that much cholesterol.

First off, thanks for the nutrition lesson. Second, what I posted was a J O K E!!!

Can we say JOKE!!!!!!!

 

[teh_pwn]

Tea: The official drink of the world

*FIXED*



http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10032,00.html

"It's now second only to water as the most popular drink in the world."

 

[-=DoAvl=-]

Where does that leave gatorade then?



Is it just me, or does gatorade seem to make you fat?

 

[Maxwell House]

Where does that leave gatorade then?



Is it just me, or does gatorade seem to make you fat?

Sarcasm??

 

[sc0la]

I tastes like healing!

That is one of my favorite simpsons moments BTW :lol

 

[happyfunball]

ECGC interacts with many things inside the cell that can also explain its anti-cancer effect. It's certainly not specific to any one thing like this article is trying to say.

 

[cvxfreak]

Green Tea godly indeed.

 

[teh_pwn]

If the tea isn't your thing, then buy green tea extract pills. Like $3 at Walmart for 70 pills (1 a day). I don't know why anyone wouldn't, as the health benefits are huge (more energy, increased life expectancy).

 

[Fatghost]

First off, you're comparing green tea and eggs. I understand what you're trying to get at, but I've never read anything negative about consuming green tea, while it should be common knowledge that eggs contain quite a bit of cholesterol (the yolk, anyways). Sure, they have important nutrients but there are healthier options if you don't want to consume that much cholesterol.

In people with normal lipid metabolism, dietary cholesterol doesn't have a negative effect.

 

[speedpop]

I drink green tea, I am invincible!

 

[demon]

I've only had green tea a few times (iced green tea), at Panera bread. They probably put other stuff in it, but shit, it tastes damn good.

 

[wandering goat]

I think green tea is overrated. Granted, I haven't had any really nice green tea like the kind they'd sell in Asia but to me it's almost like drinking boiled water, though sometimes I enjoy it more than other times. I LOVE black tea though. People that put milk in that stuff make me sick though. If you want to do that, drink some coffee.

 

[capslock]

I LOVE black tea though. People that put milk in that stuff make me sick though. If you want to do that, drink some coffee.

At least a billion people (including yours truly), drink it that way.

 

[mrklaw]

But I don't like green tea. Surely not liking something makes it bad for you - it can do you psychological damage?

I do like mugicha (no idea how to spell it), and oolong. And a nice cup of tetley (with milk )

 

[teh_pwn]

No, other teas aren't bad for you but contain far less antioxidants because of the way they are processed.