Green Tea Consumption and Cancer
Why drinking green tea could prevent cancer
Jankun, Jerzy; Selman, Steven H.; Swiercz, Rafal; Skrzypczak-Jankun, Ewa
Nature, Volume 387, Issue 6633, pp. 561 (1997).
Epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of green tea may help prevent cancers in humans; also, breast and prostate cancers in animal models are reduced by green, but not black, tea. Here we offer a possible explanation. We have inferred (using molecular modelling) and subsequently demonstrated that one of the major ingredients of green tea inhibits urokinase, an enzyme crucial for cancer growth.
“The preliminary research on cancer prevention in human populations indicates that a certain enzyme that’s needed for cancer growth (urokinase, uPA) can be inhibited by daily consumption of green tea. This article indicates that green tea can be consumed in high quantities on a daily basis to improve risk factors of cancer. This article also compared daily consumption of green tea to small doses of medication and the advantage of being able to consume green tea daily! Another great addition to the body of knowledge on green tea and cancer.” – Josh Smith