Scientists have found that the active ingredient in green tea can lead to a regression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) — a type of cancer that causes the bone marrow to make too many lymphocytes (white blood cells). Although the research showing how green tea can fight cancer cell growth was published a few years ago, it seems to have been swept under the rug a bit. But you can always read about it here.

Green Tea Fights Cancer Cell Growth

In 2009, Dr. Tait Shanafelt from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that test subjects tolerated high doses of the green tea extract very well, while also stopping cancer cell growth and leading to a regression in their cancer.

To be precise, the treatment reduced the number of lymphocytes in one-third of the test subjects.

Another symptom of this type of cancer is swollen lymph nodes, where white blood cells collect. Most subjects in the study saw their enlarged nodes reduced by 50% or more.

Each person received between 400 and 2,000 milligrams twice daily. This would roughly be the equivalent of drinking 4 to 20 cups of tea, twice daily—not manageable for most people. However, green tea extract is relatively inexpensive and many people opt to take it in supplement form.

As reported by The Telegraph:

“Many cases of CLL progress slowly, and often treatment involves an early stage of ‘”‘watchful waiting’”‘ before patients are given strong treatments. Researchers hope that EGCG could stabilize the disease for many patients in the early stage or improve the success rates of other therapies like chemotherapy.”

The research is just more proof that green tea can help in the battle against cancer.

Other Benefits of Green Tea

Green Tea has numerous benefits and has been a go-to beverage choice in certain parts of the world for centuries. In addition to reversing cancer cell growth as shown in some studies, some of the other potential benefits of green tea include:

• Accelerates fat loss – Among many foods to boost metabolism and accelerate fat loss, green tea is full of antioxidants and plenty of nutrients leading to increased metabolism when taken daily.

• May Prevent Sunburn – According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the extracts of green tea are effective chemopreventive agents for many of the adverse effects of sunlight.

• Prevents the Flu – Some research shows that drinking several cups of green tea per day slashed flu rates.

• Promotes Graceful Aging – Green tea is packed full of antioxidants, preventing free radical damage that leads to aging. Research also shows that green tea and its compounds support successful aging, and can play an important component of an overall healthy diet in adults aged 50 years and over.

Additional Sources:

Pubmed/34209247