Green Tea- A New Chance to Reduce Lung Cancer from Smoking

A new study says that drinking green tea couldAmong smokers and non-smokers, those who did not
reduce the risk of lung cancer from smokingdrink green tea had a 5.16-fold increased risk of lung
cigarettes.cancer compared with those who drank at least one
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancercup of green tea per day.
deaths in Taiwan,” said I-Hsin Lin, a student atSo we can already see some differences in drinking
Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan, whoand not drinking green tea. This tea is great for all the
conducted the study.inside organs, not only for the lungs.
“Green tea, is considered to be a very goodAmong smokers, those who did not drink green tea at
drinking for those that are smoking especially. This Kindall had a 12.71-fold increased risk of lung cancer
of tea has received a great deal of attention becausecompared with those who drank at least one cup of
tea polyphenols are strong antioxidants, and teagreen tea per day.
preparations have shown inhibitory activity againstThese are important numbers that shows us what a
tumor genesis (production of new tumor),” addedbig effect green tea has on us.
Lin.“Our study may represent a clue that in the case
Lin and colleagues have tested 170 patients with lungof lung cancer, smoking-induced carcinogenesis could
cancer and 340 healthy patients as controls.be modulated by green tea consumption and the
They administered questionnaires to obtaingrowth factor environment,” said Lin.
demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking habits,The study was presented at the AACR-IASLC Joint
green tea consumption, dietary intake of fruits andConference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer,
vegetables, cooking practices and family history of lungbeing held Jan 11-14.
cancer.