(This is part of an ongoing series called Foods YOU Need!)

(***Updated 2/2016 to address concerns over Fukushima Radiation)

How Green Tea has flown under the radar in the Western world is a puzzle to those who now realize its amazing healing potential! It has been used in Asia for centuries as an essential for prevention and treatment of many types of diseases, including cancer.

When beginning green tea consumption, you will want to look for the best Japanese green tea you can find. Why Japanese green tea and not other teas?

Green Tea History:

First of all, a little tea history. Did you know that black tea and green tea come from the same plant? Neither did I until I sat down to read a few books to write this post! The most important difference (for cancer fighting purposes) is in the fermentation process of the leaves.  In the course of the fermentation process of black tea, many of the polyphenols originally present are oxidized into black pigments and are destroyed. In green tea, these polyphenols remain in tact and have an incredible impact on the health of the consumer!

In Asia, where cancer rates are much lower than the U.S., GREEN TEA makes up 95% of all tea consumed compared to 5% in the United States. People in Asia also drink much more tea in general than in the United States, some figures pointing to 5 or more cups a day in Japan and China, although in younger generations green tea consumption is on the decline due to introduction of coffee and black sweet teas from the western world.

How Does Green Tea Combat Cancer?

A kind of antioxidant called polyphenols, or more commonly known as  “catechins,” are responsible for the majority of green tea’s anti-cancer potential. When looking for a good green tea, you want to pick a reputable brand that is highest in a catechin known as EGCG, or epigallocatechin.

There are thousands of studies on the anti-cancer effects of green tea and EGCG. Here are just a few:

1) A prospective cohort study in 1997 revealed that drinking 10 Japanese-size cups (120 ml/cup) of green tea per day delayed cancer onset 7.3 years for female patients (Imai et al., 1997; Nakachi et al., 2000) This equates to five 8 ounce cups per day.

2) A randomized phase II clinical prevention trial showed that drinking 10 Japanese-size cups of green tea, supplemented with green tea tablets, significantly reduced tumor recurrence in patients with colorectal adenomas (Shimizu et al., 2008)

3) Oral administration of EGCG in drinking water prevented both hematogenous and lymphogenous (spontaneous) lung metastases of B16 melanoma cells in male C57BL/6 mice (Taniguchi et al., 1992)

4) Treatment of B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells with EGCG increased the average value of Young’s moduli as assessed by the atomic force microscope (AFM), i.e., cell stiffness, and inhibited cell motility (Watanabe et al., 2012)

5) The combination of EGCG and anticancer compounds induced apoptosis and increased efficacy of anticancer activity in rodents, and also showed synergistic enhancement of anti-cancer activity against human cancer cell lines (Suganuma et al., 1999; 2006; 2011)

You can find the entire article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824026/

What Kind of Tea Should I Buy?

Look for Japanese green teas labeled with a specific name such a “Matcha” “Gyokuro” or “Sencha” green tea.  These are highest in EGCG. “Bancha” is also a high quality tea. This Matcha from Jade Leaf is great to try if it’s your first time trying Matcha. Their tea is cultivated in an area not tainted by the Fukushima incident and has been tested for radiation exposure. It is also certified organic and is a great price for someone just trying Matcha out. I encourage you to also do your own research and share back with me!

If you buy bagged teas in store, buy organic! A brand I like for its value and great taste is Whole Foods 365 Organic Green Tea.

Costco also has an excellent tasting organic matcha/sencha blend. Unfortunately, they serve it in nylon tea bags, which is a form of microplastic, so you will want to open the actual tea bag up and use the loose tea in a stainless steel steeper or tea ball. There is also many online options.

Also, if you are dealing with cancer, consider green tea extract supplementation to get your EGCG levels up to a therapeutic dose. Pairing this with Vitamin C, lysine and proline enhances its therapeutic effect according to the work of Dr. Linus Pauling.

Tips for a Drinking a Good Green Tea

1. Buy a loose tea or powder and use a steeper or buy an organic variety.

2. Steep your tea, COVERED for anywhere from 3-10 minutes. This allows all of the antioxidant power to be “unlocked” from the tea leaves.

3. Drink often! 3-5 cups a day is difficult to keep up with but is a MUST for anyone on an alternative cancer regimen. I was given an electric tea kettle to keep at work and brewed cups all through my school day. In the warmer months I try to drink 2 cups of  green tea a day, sometimes with a small amount of stevia added on ice. Also, you can supplement with green tea extract.

Please share any ideas or tips you have regarding green tea! This is definitely a topic we could all learn more about.

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