Does Green Tea Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

Green tea has long been linked with positive health outcomes. It is full of antioxidants that have been associated with the prevention of many ailments, including cancer. Despite these associations, there have been no evidence-based suggestions on the quantity of green tea needed to prevent cancer. There are also no specific guidelines on which types of cancer may be prevented by drinking green tea. Without this information, many people are left asking ‘does green tea actually prevent cancer?’

Green tea, also known as Chinese tea, is a type of tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves. Aside from water, it is the most widely consumed beverage around the world. Because of its popularity, researchers and consumers have been fascinated with potential health outcomes associated with drinking green tea. Some studies found that consuming green tea lowered both LDL, or ‘bad’, cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat found in blood. LDL cholesterol and triglycerides both contribute to fatty build-ups in arteries. These build-ups are often associated with strokes, heart attacks, and peripheral artery disease (PAD). As green tea was found to reduce these build-ups, researchers concluded that drinking this tea could lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have also found that green tea may lower one’s risk of obesity and improve physical performance. Drinking four cups of green tea a day for two months caused a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure.

Despite many studies proving a positive association between green tea and health, determining the impact the beverage has on cancer prevention has been inconclusive as of yet. Many researchers interested in green tea and cancer prevention have limited their experimentation to animal cells. While animal cells often act as an appropriate starting point, the outcomes are not necessarily generalizable to humans.

However, the studies on humans in regard to their risk of developing cancer generally required a much larger time frame than other studies. Monitoring the risk of cancer takes significantly more time than monitoring LDL cholesterol levels, as the study must often follow participants throughout their lifetime. Because of this, it is common for many studies to lose participants for unknown reasons and to have contradictory findings due to uncontrollable confounders. For example, researchers may not have been able to account for genetics or risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and sun exposure.

Although researchers have yet to prove an association between green tea consumption and cancer prevention, it is a widely accepted fact that a healthy body may aid in lowering one’s risk of cancer. As many studies have suggested that green tea is linked to good health, it is not unlikely that future research will be able to prove that it reduces the risk of cancer. Luckily, drinking green tea only yields benefits without any consequences. As researchers continue gathering evidence of green tea’s role in cancer prevention, consuming green tea regularly will continue improving other measures of health.

Comments(11)

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Lourdes Garcia says
August 8, 2019 at 2:32 pm

This is such great info. I wish I liked to drink green tea, but I dont. People are constantly trying to tell me what i should eat and drink so that my cancer will go away.
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  Sarah says
  August 30, 2019 at 3:30 pm
  
  I agree with you. I wish I liked to drink green tea also, but, I do not like the taste if it whatsoever. I can totally relate, people are always telling me what to eat and drink to help my breast cancer go away. Have you found anything to eat or drink that you feel helps improve your health and possibly help beat your cancer?? I wonder if anyone has really tried and found anything that they feel really helps?? Take care and I wish you the best ; )
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    Bob says
    March 18, 2021 at 9:38 am
    
    Hi Sarah,
    I’m not crazy about the taste of green tea either. But I add fruits like blueberries to my tea. I never liked cinnamon in the past but now I put that and even mint in my tea.
    Good Luck!
    Bob
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  John Dixon says
  July 27, 2020 at 1:15 pm
  
  A doctor at Heidelberg University developed amylodosis, a rare blood cancer. He held it off for about ten years, but he had to drink a lot of tea. Now there are widely available extracts so you can get the equivalent of 6 cups in a small capsule. They did seem to help my wife, but getting her to stay with even the capsules was difficult. I share you thoughts on the taste of green tea.
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    Denise Morris says
    October 30, 2020 at 6:14 pm
    
    Matcha is ceremonial grade green tea, but highly concentrated form of ECGH in green tea, so far less needed
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  Heather says
  April 1, 2021 at 9:27 pm
  
  If you are looking for a good-tasting green tea, Pure Leaf makes a chilled green tea that is flavored with apple and ginger, which is really good. And Tazo’s Zen green tea is flavored with mint, also really good!
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Charlie Noah says
July 24, 2020 at 8:47 am

Cancer takes place while cells start to broaden abnormally and subsequently spread to one of a kind tissues of the body. The trendy document from Cancer Research UK has counseled that the varieties of most cancers can exceed 2 hundred by means of range.
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Glennn Crow says
March 10, 2021 at 3:07 pm

I understand the taste issue. One can buy flavored green teas or one can flavor it yourself, e.g. lemon. I like to buy the pomegranate flavored green tea from HEB.
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Halmari Tea says
March 31, 2021 at 2:54 am

Nice informative article! if simple things like drinking green tea can help in cancer treatment than we should all be aware of it! Thank you 🙂
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Bonsey says
January 11, 2023 at 9:31 am

I gave up coffee and now drinking green tea, for those who have a hard time with the taste, just add Honey!!