绿茶的好处有多大？
SUNDAY, Sept. 24 (HealthSCOUT) -- Already thought to help with everything from arthritis to tumors, green tea now has scientists saying it might prevent skin cancer as well.
But forget about sipping it and just slap it on like sunscreen.
Compounds called polyphenols, found in high levels in green tea, appear to work as potent antioxidants, or substances that protect against cell damage, say researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland. In mice, the researchers say, polyphenols have been shown to prevent skin cancer.
, 百拇医药
Polyphenols are the same compounds that previously have been attributed to killing tumor cells and limiting blood vessel growth around cancerous growths.
Previous studies on mice indicate that one polyphenol in particular -- epig allocatechin gallate, or EGCG -- appears to prevent the reddening, blistering and cell division that's associated with exposure to ultraviolet light, the researchers say.
To get that protection, however, people would have to drink at least four cups of the tea a day.
, 百拇医药
So now they're saying you can skip the sipping altogether and simply apply the tea directly to your skin.
When EGCG was applied directly to skin that's been exposed to the sun, the latest report says, the compound prevented both inflammation and the development of leukocytes. These white blood cells are key in the development of cancer. The findings appear in the August issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
The compounds appear even more beneficial as antioxidants than vitamin C and may have broad health benefits, says lead researcher Santosh Katiyar.
, 百拇医药
"We believe these compounds are not only beneficial to skin cancer but also to other cancers such as prostate cancer and breast cancer," Katiyar says. "(EGCG) in particular is most effective in possibly killing tumor cells and stopping their growth potential." Katiyar cautions, though, that much more research is needed to prove the evidence is correct.
And we should remember, he says, that green tea may prevent -- but not cure -- cancer.
, 百拇医药
"The preventive effects will remain only as long as somebody uses this," Katiyar says, "but those benefits can be for years or possibly a lifetime."
Yet, despite the mounting studies on the potential benefits of green tea, experts say the best way to prevent skin cancer is still to avoid overexposure to those ultraviolet rays.
"There have been a number of studies that have looked at green tea and cancer risk, but we can't officially say any benefits have been proven yet," says Alexis Williams, project assistant for nutrition and physical activity at the American Cancer Society.
"The best prevention is still to stay out of the midday sun [and to] wear protective clothing and lots of sunscreen," Williams says., 百拇医药
But forget about sipping it and just slap it on like sunscreen.
Compounds called polyphenols, found in high levels in green tea, appear to work as potent antioxidants, or substances that protect against cell damage, say researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland. In mice, the researchers say, polyphenols have been shown to prevent skin cancer.
, 百拇医药
Polyphenols are the same compounds that previously have been attributed to killing tumor cells and limiting blood vessel growth around cancerous growths.
Previous studies on mice indicate that one polyphenol in particular -- epig allocatechin gallate, or EGCG -- appears to prevent the reddening, blistering and cell division that's associated with exposure to ultraviolet light, the researchers say.
To get that protection, however, people would have to drink at least four cups of the tea a day.
, 百拇医药
So now they're saying you can skip the sipping altogether and simply apply the tea directly to your skin.
When EGCG was applied directly to skin that's been exposed to the sun, the latest report says, the compound prevented both inflammation and the development of leukocytes. These white blood cells are key in the development of cancer. The findings appear in the August issue of the Archives of Dermatology.
The compounds appear even more beneficial as antioxidants than vitamin C and may have broad health benefits, says lead researcher Santosh Katiyar.
, 百拇医药
"We believe these compounds are not only beneficial to skin cancer but also to other cancers such as prostate cancer and breast cancer," Katiyar says. "(EGCG) in particular is most effective in possibly killing tumor cells and stopping their growth potential." Katiyar cautions, though, that much more research is needed to prove the evidence is correct.
And we should remember, he says, that green tea may prevent -- but not cure -- cancer.
, 百拇医药
"The preventive effects will remain only as long as somebody uses this," Katiyar says, "but those benefits can be for years or possibly a lifetime."
Yet, despite the mounting studies on the potential benefits of green tea, experts say the best way to prevent skin cancer is still to avoid overexposure to those ultraviolet rays.
"There have been a number of studies that have looked at green tea and cancer risk, but we can't officially say any benefits have been proven yet," says Alexis Williams, project assistant for nutrition and physical activity at the American Cancer Society.
"The best prevention is still to stay out of the midday sun [and to] wear protective clothing and lots of sunscreen," Williams says., 百拇医药