THIS WEEK'S QUESTION

Q. I have heard that tea can prevent cancer. I have also heard that it can promote cancer. Which is true?

A. I am a big fan of tea. Tea is one of the most readily available (and inexpensive) sources of anti-cancer substances, including antioxidants. Numerous studies have shown that consumption of tea is associated with lower rates of some kinds of cancer, including esophagus, stomach and lung. There is no doubt that substances in tea called polyphenols (which constitute one-third of dry green tea by weight) have powerful antioxidant activities. But they also stop carcinogens in other ways, prevent cells from wildly multiplying, induce cancer cells to peacefully depart this world (apoptosis), and stop cell cycles that have gotten out-of-hand.

One study from Japan has even shown that high consumption of green tea is closely associated with decreased numbers of axillary lymph node metastases among premenopausal Stage I and II breast cancer patients, and with an increased expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors among postmenopausal ones. These are all favorable things.

BLOCKING CARCINOGENS

A recent study from the Linus Pauling Institute showed that green or black tea could block the carcinogens that are formed when meat or fish is cooked. Thus, it makes sense to take tea with your meals, especially if you eat grilled, broiled or fried meats. (Other substances that had a similar effect were the cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, and any chlorophyll-containing green plants.)

So by all means, drink three or four cups of tea per day. However, it is also generally true that caffeine is not good for you. One of the things it does is enhance the activity of certain carcinogens. Therefore, I strong urge you to drink naturally decaffeinated tea. If you can get organic decaffeinated tea, so much the better. Green tea is the most healthful, but black tea or black-green blends are also very valuable.

We have a Moss Report on the topic of stomach, lung or esophagus cancer as we have for most other types of cancer. Please see my forthcoming book, Antioxidants Against Cancer (pub date = January 2000) for a full discussion of the anticancer activity of tea.

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Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. is director of the The Moss Reports for cancer patients. Dr. Moss is the author of eleven books and three documentaries on cancer-related topics. He is or has been an advisor on alternative cancer treatments to the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the American Urological Association, Columbia University, the University of Texas, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the German Society of Oncology. He wrote the first article on alternative medicine for the Encyclopedia Britannica yearbook. He is listed in Marquis Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in the East, and Who's Who in Entertainment (as a film documentarian). This Web site does not advocate any particular treatment for cancer. We urge you to always seek competent medical advice for all health problems, especially cancer. Before consulting our site please read our full Disclaimer statement.

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