Drink Tea to Your Health!

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Drink Tea to Your Health!
                   Studies Show Drinking Tea Fights Cancer

    BETHESDA, MD, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Tea drinkers rejoice!  Studies show
that drinking tea reduces the risk of some cancers in humans.
    Previously tea was thought to have cardiovascular benefits, but there is
mounting evidence that tea has cancer-fighting properties as well.
    Specifically, the antioxidant properties in green, black and oolong or
real tea are cited in these studies.  These teas originate from the camellia
sinensis plant and are excellent sources of polyphenols or plant chemicals
(phytochemicals).
    In particular real tea is rich in flavonoids, powerful antioxidants, which
have been highly touted as a primary staple in the diet of the Okinawan people
of Japan, otherwise known as the healthiest people on earth.  Herbal teas are
derived from a different plant source and lack the antioxidant properties of
the flavanoids in real tea.
    Antioxidants help protect the body against disease by counteracting the
harmful effects of free radicals -- stray, highly reactive particles that
accumulate in the body as byproducts of metabolism.  Free radicals injure
surrounding cells through oxidation.  Left unchecked they can damage cellular
DNA and potentially cause cancer.
    Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene are free radical
scavengers.  But research from both the National Foundation for Cancer
Research and the University of Kansas reports that green tea is 100 times more
potent than vitamin C and 25 times more potent than vitamin E at protecting
cells from damage linked to cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.  In
addition, indications are that black tea contains the same amount of
phytochemicals as green tea.
    Most of the data supporting the anti-cancer benefits of tea at this point
is derived from animal studies in which animals were treated with polyphenols
equivalent to amounts consumed by regular tea drinkers.  Evidence is the
strongest for prevention of cancers of the oral cavity, stomach and colon.  A
few animal studies link tea with a decreased risk of lung and skin cancers.
    Studies in humans have been less consistent but still suggest that tea has
anticancer benefits.  So drink tea to your health!

    The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) was founded in 1973 to
support cancer research in the laboratory.  NFCR sponsors research at both the
cellular and molecular levels to better prevent, diagnose, treat and
eventually cure cancer.  By supporting the best ideas of the best minds,
advances in one field contribute to discoveries in another.  We call this our
"laboratory without walls."  NFCR is fully dedicated to advancing cancer
research in the laboratory.  For more than 25 years, NFCR has provided over
$180 million to more than 135 research projects in 20 countries around the
world.

    This material is presented as a public service by the National Foundation
for Cancer Research.  For more information call 1-800-321-CURE or write NFCR,
4600 East West Highway, Suite 525, Bethesda, MD 20814. Please visit our Web
site at http://www.nfcr.org.
SOURCE National Foundation for Cancer Research
http://www.nfcr.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/155415.html
CONTACT:
Silas Deane of Logic Media Group,
+1-615-244-8035, or e-mail, Silas@logicmediagroup.com, for
National Foundation for Cancer Research