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Breast cancer is one of the most frightening diseases faced by today’s women. In fact, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, after nonmelanoma skin cancer. About 13% of American women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. And, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, after lung cancer.
Scientists are continuing to look for new information to determine what causes breast cancer as well how to prevent and treat this disease. Today, we still don’t know what causes breast cancer, but we do understand some of the risk factors.
In addition, we have come a long way in treating breast cancer – though many women still die each year. Some of the research is very promising, including research on green tea.
One group of breast cancer sufferers who cause doctors a great area of concern are those who have a higher than average expression of the epidermal growth factor Her-2/neu. Her-2/neu is a growth factor that sometimes presents itself in a tumor. An over expression of this growth factor is a concern for breast cancer patients.
During routine testing of patients who have been recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, doctors will determine the level of Her-2/neu. If the level is high, this information is used to guide treatment. The level of this growth factor is important because studies have shown that patients with an over expression of Her-2/neu have a higher likelihood of their cancer metastasizing, and have an overall lower survival rate. The Her-2/neu is high in about 30% of breast cancer patients.
As part of the ongoing research to find effective treatments for breast cancer, scientists have been looking seriously at the benefits of green tea, both on preventing cancer and treating it. Asian cultures have used green tea for its healing properties for centuries, and their overall rate of cancer is much lower than that of the Western world.
Tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. You’ll hear tea referred to as green, white or black. These differences do not result from actual different types of tea leaf, but rather from differences in how the tea leaves are processed. Green and white teas are not fermented during processing, but black tea goes through such a processing.
Tea leaves contain catechins, part of the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids, which are anti-oxidants. EGCG is one of the catechins contained in tea, and is a potent anti-oxidant. Fermenting the tea leaves converts the catechins to other compounds that are not as healthy as those in unfermented tea. So, the focus of research has been on green tea, because of its healthier form of anti-oxidants.
What’s So Great About Anti-Oxidants?
During our body’s process of converting food to energy, we create free radicals in our body. These free radicals are damaging to our cells and DNA if we don’t combat them. Left unchecked, free radicals contribute to speeding up the aging process and to causing diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Anti-oxidants, however, can help us combat these free radicals, and a diet in anti-oxidants is linked with preventing cancer, heart disease and stroke. So, doctors recommend a diet high in anti-oxidants – which means eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking green tea each day.
However, scientists also seem to be finding out that green tea may be able to increase the effectiveness in some cancer treatments. Several studies conducted on mice already diagnosed with cancer have shown that taking green tea along with the cancer treatments can increase the effectiveness of the traditional therapy and may slow down the progression of cancer to other cells. There is promising research; some of it directly related to breast cancer treatment.
One particular study of interest was conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine. In this study, female mice with breast cancer whose Her-2/neu levels were very high were treated with green tea along with their regular cancer treatment. Mice that ingested the green tea showed a slower growth of their tumors and a slower progression of their cancer than those who were treated with the same medicine without green tea as an adjunct therapy.*
Researchers who found these results also believe that if green tea can inhibit the growth of tumors in patients already diagnosed with cancer, it may also be effective in preventing cancerous cells from forming and growing in the first place. This coincides with other research that indicates that green tea may be significant in preventing cancer. In addition, it helps explain why Asian cultures have such a low cancer incidence compared to the Western world.
This is very promising news for a group of breast cancer sufferers who have traditionally had a lower survival rate than others with breast cancer. If we can slow the rate of cancer progression in those with over expression of Her-2/neu to approximately the same rate as other breast cancer patients, we may be far more effective at treating these patients.
Far more research is needed in the area of breast cancer prevention and treatment. In addition, scientists will be spending more time examining the benefits of green tea in cancer prevention and treatment. But, it seems clear that green tea has a place in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancer.
Even though there is more research to be done, there is no downside to adding green tea to your diet to help prevent disease or to improve your health if it is already failing. Scientists have found no risks involved with drinking green tea. It has no side effects, and is a healthy alternative to coffee because of its high level of anti-oxidants and because it is much lower in caffeine than coffee. So, get a jump start on your anti-oxidants by drinking green tea!
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I really wanted to talk about this topic today because you can prevent cancer by living a healthy lifestyle and by getting your regular cancer screenings. Cancer screening tests are used to detect cancer at an early stage, when signs do not yet appear. It may be simpler to treat or cure any abnormality or cancer found early. When symptoms appear, the cancer may have advanced and spread. This can make cancer treatment or cure more difficult.
You can adopt healthy lifestyle practices that improve your health and enrich your life, which can in turn improve the lives of those close to you. You have the power to break the cycle of poor health, including chronic diseases such as some cancers, so that you can leave a legacy of health to your loved ones.
I use lifestyle medicine as the first line of treatment, before medications, to treat lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, just to name a few. Lifestyle practices, such as eating a whole-food plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can help you lose weight, and maybe reverse some chronic diseases (if you suffer from them). In certain cases, these approaches may even outperform pharmaceutical therapy.
Taking a Supplement to Support Your Health
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Prevention is better than a cure.” But what does that mean when it comes to cancer? Of course, avoiding unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking are important steps people can take to prevent cancer. But did you know dietary supplements can also play an important role in reducing your risk of getting cancer? Let’s take a look at the surprising benefits of dietary supplements for reducing cancer risks.
What Are Dietary Supplements?
Dietary supplements are nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, taken orally in the form of pills or capsules. They can be used to prevent deficiencies that may occur due to poor nutrition or health issues. For example, pregnant women may take folic acid as a supplement because their body may not produce enough on its own during this time period. There is some evidence that dietary supplements can reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, but more research is needed to understand how exactly they work in this area.
The Benefits of Dietary Supplements
There have been studies examining the correlation between certain dietary supplements and cancer prevention. Some findings suggest that calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Additionally, vitamin C has been shown to have anti-cancer properties and may help protect against some types of tumors. However, it is important to note that these studies were conducted on animals or cells in a lab setting and more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding the effectiveness of dietary supplements in humans for cancer prevention.
Although more research is needed regarding the overall effectiveness of dietary supplementation in cancer prevention, you can still act now to improve and/or maintain your overall health. The supplements in my MaxHealth Total Wellness Bundle may provide the extra boost you need.
These are my favorite Wellness and Immune-Boosting Supplements to use! This MaxHealth Total Wellness Bundle will ensure you have the intake of the important vitamins, minerals, and probiotics to decrease inflammation and boost your innate wellness day and night. Taken together, it’s a solid plan for increasing your body’s natural resiliency.
For best results make sure you use the supplements with dietary changes including a whole food plant-based diet, regular exercise (at least 2-3x per week), regular sleep (8 hours per night), and intermittent fasting (at least 1-3x per week).
The Role of Diet in Cancer Prevention
It’s important to remember that while dietary supplements can play a role in improving health and may help reduce the risk of some cancers, diet still plays a major role as well. Eating healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables will provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals that cannot be found in supplement form alone; thus helping lower your risk for disease. In addition, maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise will also help reduce your risk for developing certain types of cancers.
Food For Thought
While more research needs to be done on the effects of dietary supplements on cancer prevention specifically, there is evidence suggesting they could be beneficial in reducing one’s risk for certain cancers when combined with healthy eating habits and regular exercise. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide if taking dietary supplements is right for you—consulting with your doctor before doing so is always recommended! Whatever you decide though make sure you keep up with healthy habits like eating right and exercising regularly—these practices remain key components towards reducing one’s risk for developing cancer!
Please talk with your doctor about any complementary health approaches, including supplements, you use. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
Stay healthy,
Dr. Nicolle
Dr. Nicolle Martin
Dr. Nicolle is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. As one of the nation’s most acclaimed primary care and public health physicians, she is a nationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, consultant and media personality. She is the Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of DrNicolleMD.com, where she discusses actionable ideas and real-world strategies to help people take control of their health using integrative therapies and lifestyle change.
Dr. Nicolle also shares her knowledge via her popular social media accounts “Maximize Health” to help people pursue a healthier life. Her motto is simple: Minimize Medications, Maximize Health. With her credentials and warm “bedside manner,” it’s no wonder that the doctor is renowned as “America’s Favorite Family Physician.”
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Last updated on January 17th, 2022 at 12:40 am
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