Green tea is the most valuable beverage in the world period. It contains an element called catechin that have been found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, kill cancer cells, prevent the formation and growth of new blood vessels in cancerous tumors.

This is according to two separate studies by Harvard Women’s Health Watch and   truthaboutcancer.com

To understand how green tea works to fight cancer, it’s important to understand how cancer is formed in the first place. (At least a summary) According to national cancer institute, some cancers are caused by the activities of cell thieves in the body called Free radicals

Meet the cell thieves: free Radicals

To cut the science story short, free radicals are like pick pocket thieves in your body. They attack your body cells and steal parts of it away thereby causing cell and DNA damage

When free radicals steal from your cells, the original cell structure and Format is destroyed.

Sometimes the body kills such deformed cells, but at other times it leads to formation of tumors, cancerous growths, dementia and other degenerative diseases.

Free radicals get into the body through fried and processed foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides and air pollutants.

Normal body processes like digestion, excretion, breathing also build up Free radicals as byproducts.

The body can handle small amounts of free radicals but when excessive can lead to cancer and other serious ailments

Free radical fighters: Antioxidants

Antioxidants are the body police to guard against these free radicals. They deactivate free radicals before they attack cells.

Foods high in Vitamin c, Vitamin E and beta carotene are high in antioxidants and puts a stop to the activities of these pesky free radicals. These includes fruits, vegetables, sweet potatoes and avocado.

 Green tea: the powerful cell protector / Antioxidant

Green tea contains a powerful compound called catechins that protects the body from free radicals.one cup of green tea has antioxidant effect 25–100 times stronger that of vitamins C and E.

In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting damage to caused by free radicals

One cup of green tea provides 10-40 mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant effects greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries

Laboratory experiments show that catechins and other green tea antioxidants are toxic to cancer cells and indicate why health experts are so optimistic about their use in cancer therapies in the near future.

In one study, treating breast cancer cells with green tea catechins led to so many of them dying that the study researchers were able to measure a significant reduction in tumor size.

Green tea catechins is so powerful that stops growth of cancer cells from growing and rapidly spreading from one location of the body to another

It triggers the growth of a special cell called p53. This cell kills tumors in the body

How to enjoy green tea.

Freshly brewed green tea is always the best option; commercial iced and ready-to-drink versions of green tea may not have the same antioxidants that you’ll get from a freshly brewed cup using real green tea leaves.

The antioxidant concentrations of green tea – and the health benefits you get from it – depend on the type and quality of green tea you use, how much you use, how long you brew it for, and the temperature of brewing.

Precautions:

Tea consumption, especially green tea can be incorporated in an overall healthy diet with whole grains, fish, fruits and vegetables, and less red and processed meat,” says Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health.

However, if you’re on prescription medications or are sensitive to caffeine, you may want to speak to your physician before adding green tea to your daily diet.

If you do experience any uncomfortable symptoms (such as nervousness, confusion, sleep issues, irritability), be sure to discontinue green tea immediately and consult your physician right away.

Additional benefits of green tea include a reduced risk for heart disease and weight loss.

Multiple studies indicate that lemons make the benefits of green tea even stronger