Did you know that tea is the second most consumed beverage worldwide, after water? While tea brewed in the traditional way is still a dietary staple in many parts of the world, an ever-increasing range of healthy teas in varied forms is now available. Many of these teas offer multiple health benefits.
In fact, tea has been widely used throughout history as a therapy for specific health conditions. It has also been credited with lowering the risk of disease, including cancer risk. And what do you know – recent scientific and clinical research supports some, if not all, of these very intriguing health claims!
Let’s look at three healthy teas scientific evidence indicates you should be drinking daily to lower your overall risk of getting cancer.
Green Tea
Green tea is a very popular beverage in Japan and parts of China. And did you know that green tea, white tea, Oolong tea, and black tea are all made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis? The reason these teas look and taste different is because they’re processed differently. For instance, green tea is made from fresh leaves which are steamed or heated immediately after harvest. Black tea receives more processing, making it the most oxidized of the three.
Green tea contains many naturally occurring “bioactive” compounds – in other words, natural compounds that act in specific ways on our body. Bioactive compounds in green tea include caffeine, tea polyphenols, and so-called “volatile” compounds that contribute to this tea’s familiar odor and taste.
Tea Polyphenols and Catechins are Antioxidants
Tea polyphenols are bioactive plant compounds that include catechins, which are believed to be responsible for many of the promising health benefits attributed to green tea. The most active and abundant catechin in green tea is known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Epigallocatechin (ECG) is another catechin. Both have high antioxidant activity – together they act to neutralize many harmful “free radicals” in our body.
A free radical is a highly reactive molecule that can damage important biological structures in your body’s cells, such as DNA and proteins. Like vitamin C and vitamin E, antioxidants such as EGCG and ECG limit the damage free radicals cause by chemically neutralizing them.
Anti-Cancer Activities of Green Tea
Laboratory studies have shown that green tea:
- Slows down or completely prevents growth of cancer cells
- Blocks formation of new blood vessels that cancers need to feed themselves with nutrients
- May protect the body’s cells against ultraviolet (UV) damage
- May boost the immune system
- Appears to trigger natural detox enzymes in our body that help to protect against cancer formation
Although many of these anti-cancer benefits are believed to be the result of the strong antioxidant activity (and other bioactive properties) of green tea polyphenols such as EGCG and ECG, the exact mechanisms by which green tea acts to prevent cancer have not yet been clearly identified.
While regular green tea consumption is recommended for lowering cancer risk, its effectiveness in people who are already suffering from various forms of cancer is unclear at present. However, because of its lack of toxicity and numerous anti-cancer properties, it is both acceptable and advisable to consume two to three cups of green tea daily. It would be reasonable to expect that a preventive therapy that can help to lower cancer risk might also help prevent the progression of the disease.
Dandelion Tea
The lowly dandelion weed has been used for centuries as an alternative herbal remedy to treat infections, lower inflammation, increase bile flow and correct liver problems. It is also considered to be an effective mild laxative, along with improving appetite and digestion.
Recently, very promising studies have shown that extracts of the dandelion flower, leaves, and root – all of which are used to make healthy teas – contain bioactive compounds with potential anti-cancer properties.
Anti-Cancer Properties of Dandelion Root Extract
In a very exciting result for both cancer therapists and patients, dandelion root extract was found to kill aggressive, treatment-resistant human pancreatic cancer cells without harming non-cancerous cells.
Another cancer that is highly resistant to treatment is chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Dandelion root extract was shown to selectively kill CMML cells, suggesting that dandelion root extract has great potential as an effective alternative to conventional CMML treatment with toxic anti-cancer drugs.
The lethal and fast-acting skin cancer melanoma is known to be resistant to immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The only known way to treat it is surgical removal after early detection. Promisingly, dandelion root extract has been shown to kill human melanoma cells, once again without harming non-cancerous cells.
It’s important to remember that these studies on dandelion root extract have all been carried out in isolated cancer cells in laboratory conditions. The only way to know how effective dandelion root extract can be against various forms of cancer is to test it in human clinical trials. There is currently one human clinical trial underway at the University of Windsor in Canada where a research team is testing a potent form of dandelion root extract on a group of 30 patients with end-stage, blood-related cancers.
Until more research results are available, health experts say that it’s perfectly fine to drink a cup or two of dandelion flower, leaf, or root tea daily as a preventive therapy, because of its near-complete lack of toxicity. However, if you’re currently being treated for a health condition, you should play it safe and consult your physician before adding these healthy teas to your daily diet.
Chaga Mushroom Tea
Did you know that up to 100 species of mushrooms are being studied for their health-promoting benefits? It seems that some mushrooms contain very potent immune-boosting bioactive compounds. For this reason, health experts believe that mushrooms may one day be useful in preventing, as well as treating, cancer.
For instance, the chaga mushroom has been used for many years in folk medicine in Siberia and other parts of Russia, Poland, and many Baltic countries. Chaga is used as a cleansing agent as well as to treat stomach diseases, worms, liver and heart conditions – and even cancer.
In recent years, this exotic mushroom – which grows almost exclusively on birch trees and is said to look like a large growth of burnt bark – has been studied closely because of its high nutritional and antioxidant levels. In fact, its popularity has grown to such an extent that you can now buy a healthy tea made from chaga mushrooms.
The Chaga Mushroom – An Anti-Cancer Superhero?
Chaga mushroom extracts have been shown to kill human lung, glial, and colon cancer cells in laboratory studies without harming normal non-cancerous cells.
Further, a bioactive compound obtained from chaga was shown to kill multiple types of colon cancer cells, strongly suggesting that it can be used as a supplement in colon cancer therapy.
While these initial results are very promising, clinical trials are still needed to verify chaga’s safety and effectiveness as a potential cancer treatment in humans.
Health experts warn that it is not advisable to drink chaga mushroom tea if you are using a blood thinning drug or if you’re on blood sugar-lowering medications. To be on the safe side, be sure to consult your physician before adding this particular healthy tea to your daily diet, especially if you already have a pre-existing health condition.
Article Summary
Tea has been widely used throughout history as a therapy for specific health conditions. It has also been credited with lowering the risk of many diseases, including cancer.
Green tea contains many naturally occurring “bioactive” compounds (natural compounds that act in specific ways on our body). Green tea contains both EGCG and ECG which help to neutralize many harmful “free radicals” in our body.
While regular green tea consumption is recommended for lowering cancer risk, its effectiveness in people who are already suffering from various forms of cancer is unclear at present. However, due to its lack of toxicity and numerous anti-cancer properties, it is generally advisable to consume 2 to 3 cups of green tea daily.
Promising recent studies have shown that extracts of the dandelion flower, leaves, and root – all of which are used to make healthy teas – contain bioactive compounds with potential anti-cancer properties.
Most health experts say that it’s perfectly fine to drink a cup or two of dandelion flower, leaf, or root tea daily as a preventive therapy, because of its near-complete lack of toxicity. (However it’s always best to check with your doctor first.)
Some mushrooms contain very potent immune-boosting bioactive compounds. In recent years, the chaga mushroom has been studied closely because of its high nutritional and antioxidant levels. While initial studies are very promising, clinical trials are still needed to verify chaga’s safety and effectiveness as a potential cancer treatment in humans.
Health experts warn that it is not advisable to drink chaga mushroom tea if you are using a blood thinning drug or if you’re on blood sugar-lowering medications. Be sure to consult your physician before adding this tea to your daily diet − especially if you already have a pre-existing health condition.
Thanks for the info…
Does decaffeinated green tea give one the same benefits as regular green tea?
Mentioned oolong tea, but no info in this article?????
Is OK for the consumption of green Tea to be taken as in Tea Bags or is leaf tea the better option
I really enjoyed your articles, do you have any suggestons for Mesothelioma (asbestosis cancer) of the lungs please.\warm regards
Jo Orya
Hi Josephine,
The best advice we can give you for specific medical questions is to consult with one of the doctors we interviewed in our docu-series. We’ve created a page with the experts contact info as it was available to us. Here’s the link to get their info: http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Can you please tell us about Ashwagandha too? Dr. Oz saiid it reverses the autoimmune condition, and Deepak Chopra says it gives a person the strength of a stallion. Thank you for this tea info so much!!
The studies by the late Dr. Serban Schreiber (famous book anticancer) and Canadian cancer researcher Dr Richard Beliveau, suggest that Japanese Sencha green tea, has the most powerful anticancer properties.
Leaves, roots, mushrooms. Who would’ve guessed that Nature’s weapons against disease would be more powerful than mans? Well, every indigenous person on the planet did until we became “civilized” and “invented” modern medicine. Personally I like to add-in the rest of the tree too – with berries, bark, seeds & saps. A tree-a-day keeps the doctor away!
Exactly, just eat Whole foods from the earth – nothing man-made!
Great Info, I personally drink Arctic Chaga Tea, but the tea that we used as part of a protocol to get my husband well from Stage 3 Prostate Cancer, with Zero Western Treatment was Pau D’Arco Tea from The Teaheebo Tea Club. It is imported from Brazil and it gets rid of fungus and oxygenates the blood, this makes it a great anti aging tea as well. I had my husband drink 8 cups a day for months and months. There are many people who have made miraculous recoveries just drinking this tea. My Brazilian friends say that it is even prescribed by doctors in Brazil.
Cool comment thank you for sharing Cathey God bless you and your husband and family
just read this about the tea your husband drinks has this help him with his prostate cancer, i would like to hear from you if you dont mind, thank you,
I am amazed with all the teas mentioned in this article. That Essiac tea was not mentioned. I have been drinking this tea through the winter and flu season. I decided to opt out on the flu vaccine this year, because I always sick with the flu. With or without the vaccine. For the first time in over 10 years. I have had a healthy flu season. I believe it was Essiac tea. That kept me healthy.
thank you…ms cathey..will make a purchase with in the week, that should help!!
I love chaga tea i drink it every day, and my biggest shocker is all my male organs are working like they did when i was 30.
I can not recommend enough if you are having trouble with inflammation of the urinary tract or weak urinary stream,or just having prostrate problems, Chaga tea will amaze you. If you need more info about Chaga tea i my be able to help.
Where can you buy this Tea?
i sell it from north carolina can ship it anywhere
Roger, you can buy it on , Amazon.com , and the grocery stores. Make sure you only buy,
Organic.
Great article! MushroomMama.com makes an awesome Chaga Tea and other medicinal mushroom teas also! Check us out!
Can U tell me if U have any natural remedies for ovarian cancer nodules? I also have a “cluster” behind my belly button. I had ovarian cancer surgery in Nov.’13 & 5-months of chemo in 2014 ..it returned within 1-year. I am taking turmeric, 1000 V C x4-6!& have Grape seed, V d-3;& cannabis oil;
Cathey I agree with you 100% about Pau D’ Arco. My friend has use this to lower his PSA results without any conventional help. Also another great tea is ESSIAC, this has also helped another friend with his lungs cancer where he had 2 tumors and the larger of the 2 tumors disappear upon drinking the ESSIAC tea.
Is Tea can help with people who got ovarian cancer.
Where can you purchase the Essiac Tea and Pau D’Arco tea?
Ahhh, but did you mention that to obtain the most benefit of these teas they must be prepared properly? For example, green tea has been traditionally prepared more similar to the teas we often think of, where the plant is steeped in hot water, strained, and then drank. However, Dandelion tea has traditionally been prepared more often as a decoction. Being a harder root, it would be boiled in water for a period of time or until about 1/3 or 1/2 of the liquid evaporated. Chaga, a hard and bark-like mushroom (one of my favorites!), has been boiled for longer periods of time, taking more effort to extract more medicinal properties, often being boiled 5 times over, or to a reduction of about 1/5 (a very strong decoction) in traditional methods. With Chaga, in particular, there has been a popularity in the market of this herb (no wonder why after reading your article, right?). It is now cultivated through a farming process and there is a difference between the quality and properties of wild vs farmed Chaga. Researching the traditional methods of these tea preparations may help your readers gain most benefit from their herbal investment, should they choose to utilize these teas in their lifestyle. There’s something to be said about generations of trial and error and use of herbal preparations- I hope your readers are able to utilize what you share to best of benefit!
Thank you!
I’ve heard its best not to boil chaga that you shouldn’t exceed 180 degrees F if you don’t want to destroy some of the beneficial compounds. It’s good to let it steep over night to get a really strong tea but if its ground up small enough you can get a pretty tasty tea rather quickly. Also you can reuse your pieces of chaga mushroom a minimum of one time in water extraction (tea) and then you can use alcohol to extract even more from these wonderful mushrooms.
dear Jeremy! we make extraction at 50C temperature and get sublimated water soluble chaga mushroom extract with all medical properties of mushrooms . you can order here at http://www.baikal-legend.ru
What is the alternative to chemotherapy and radiation?
oh really? I drink these tea’s all my life—
where can we buy these teas from ? where can I buy the best essential oils from that are the purest and are for healing. What do I look for on the label since everything is deceiving.
Purifyskintherapy.com has organic essential oils. Highest quality!!
doTERRA is of high quality as well but pricey. There are a few companies out there. I have tried Spark which are pretty good!
I’m not sure where to get the teas from but what I consider to be the “best” essential oils are YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS from Dr. Gary Young!
If you are looking for labels you will not find them on any shelf that i’m aware of, you need someone who has been making chaga tea for a few years and has had very good success with the tea, I do not deceive,or make bad tea,i have been making juices and teas for over 23 years
my juices and teas are designed for cancer recover. Juicemaker
Hi
I need some of your teas
Anita i would be happy to make it for you, it has been making big changes in my life. if you would like to talk juicemaker47@yahoo.com
I’ve been using Roiboss tea from South Africa for years, similar properties as green tea
Vitminamin B-17 is natures cancer killer.
Socialite and the Seven Pirates
The Skull and Cross Bones was flying in the wind, to let anyone who came nearby know ‘who’ it was coming from over the ocean sea from a far away land.
Ship ahoy captain! There was a Pirate ship seen clearly in the near distance. Who is that girl on board looking over the horizon, said the captain to his boatswain. Telescope to left eye, lifts up eye-patch zooming in closely, Captain, it is none other than Admirable Belle on the seven gun ship, and her rebellious crew. The captain was spellbound; as the wind began to howl so noisily he could hardly hear a word. Her men are preparing to fire Sir. The ship swayed from left to right. What man: did you just say our ship’s on fire? said the captain very loudly. Fire, fire echoed the ship’s crew fetch water from below, our ship is on fire. Swish swash, splash splash. No, yelled the boatswain, look to the West, the seven gun ship is preparing to fire. The crew shrugged their shoulders in confusion then pointed in different direction asking; which way is West.
Look Belle we are under attack, it is one of Her Majesty’s 22 gunner ships; they are going to ram us. Yes, so it is, raise the anchor, steer to the right, oh and while you are at it, put the kettle on, I haven’t finished doing my nails yet. Her crew burst into song; Whistle while you work, Captain is a flirt, thinks he is handsome wants the ransom, just whistle while you work.
Captain she is coming this way. Well which way did you expect her to go, replied the captain, suddenly in shallow water; rubbing his knuckles up and down his stubbly face fanaticizing. Hold your fire men, he said, put up a white flag. And bring out my bath tub.
Look Belle the little fat captain is having a bath and they have raised the white flag to beg for mercy. Belle raises her hand sheltering her eyes from the sun now brightly shining. Oh isn’t he such a cutie. Her crew burst into song again, little fat captain sitting in a tub, wash-wash-wash, rub-rub- rub, oh my word, what has he done, this is fun, little fat person is washing his bum.
Belle’s ship pulled aside the captain’s ship and they were all welcomed aboard: So we meet again Admirable Belle said the Captain. Belle looked down at him standing proudly like Lord Nelson. So we do, it has been a long time Captain Hugs. And all the ships company start laughing, and repeating to one another Captain ‘Hugs’, ho-ho-ho-ha-ha ha what a funny name. Leave him alone, it is a very sweet name said Belle handing him a cup of tea.
These are wonderful details, where do you purchase these Teas?
In Ireland it is almost a routine to sip on tea or coffee all day. Raining and cold we need it here! I like it but I am glad I sip on herbal teas instead. Makes such a big difference.
Fluoride in tea.
Black, green and white teas are loaded with fluoride, case closed. This site states elsewhere that fluoride can contribute to cancer, especially thyroid cancer. All comments to articles you post, whether they agree with your thesis or not deserve to be considered by the readers, unless, of course, the content is presented in an unsuitable manner. I’ve been very nice and straightforward so far with my two previous comments here.
Before you delete this, because it is controversial to your article(This will be your third deletion of me in two days), I now realize that you(Mr. Nair) are either a shill for either the tea or fluoride industry and you have no interest in providing the truth to the people. You’re obviously just another phony hack under the guise of being some knowledgeable “expert”.
This is such a “feel good” website because you only show one side of the coin. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a negative comment yet, a very misleading and “dangerous” practice.
Hi typodrive, It may take a few days for a comment to be approved and then posted. Best wishes!
does this Essiac tea have flouride?
typodrive, Does Organic teas have fluoride? Is it the leaf that has naturally occurring fluoride in it or is it the soil that it is grown in?
I thought one tea would be Essiac. Ive been drinkiing it. I bought it for my brother but he never drank it. He died of brain cancer. So sad.
Feeding the fear of cancer….. your life is too precious to play it safe and not complete a full regime of treatments. Enjoy tea, water, coffee, wine and other beverages in moderation. Guzzling green tea is not the answer. I’ve been drinking tea since I was about 12, and I got breast cancer… go figure… LOL…. I still enjoy EVERYTHING!!!! Might go and put the kettle on now…. tea time!
Exactly, just eat Whole foods – from the earth – nothing man-made!
Hi!
I just would like to clarify what you meant by this statement:
“Black tea receives more processing,making it the most oxidized of the three.”
[Green tea is a very popular beverage in Japan and parts of China. And did you know that green tea, white tea, Oolong tea, and black tea are all made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis? The reason these teas look and taste different is because they’re processed differently. For instance, green tea is made from fresh leaves which are steamed or heated immediately after harvest. Black tea receives more processing, making it the most oxidized of the three].
I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and read about Pau D”Arco tea and the info is amazing all the healing properties. I got it at the vitamin shoppe, would you say that the one from the Teaheebo tea club is a purer form? Thank you for posting that it is great to hear a success story with it. I need to drink more of it.
Hi I also use Pau D’Arco tea but make sure you get it from a pure source and make sure you are buying the inner bark. Mountain rose herbs has all organic tea and kosher my trusted source God bless you
Apparently, black and green teas contain high fluoride content from the soil with white tea supposedly containing the least due to its younger leaves that are processed sooner and so have less contact in the soil. I now drink white tea in preference to green having learned this. I have though only used organic tea bags so far for convenience.
Does white tea have the same benefits as green tea? I switched to white tea about a year ago, as my naturopath recommended to stop drinking black tea, and I don’t like a lot of strong herbal teas.
I guess I made a wrong assumption. I have been drinking black tea all my life. I don’t care for green tea, but lately have put both black and green in a glass continuously through the day. Hoping to be able to get the nutrients from the green tea. they are both organic now. Sounds like I need to put a pot of tea on the day before and drink it, and choose another due to floride. I have stage 4 kidney cancer.
I heard alfalfa seed tea is good for kidneys! My ex husband was drinking heavily and had kidney infections. After 1 week of sipping alfalfa tea the crystals in the urine cleared up and he felt better! He was an alcoholic…
Is taking Chaga mushroom and the others I extract form just as good?
Where do you get the Essiac tea from n how can I buy some
Someone that had done heaps of research on Essiac tea gave me the name of Ojibwa Colorado. http://www.ojibwatea.com I received mine today.
You can buy the ready made tea in Wholefoods or Pharmica. It comes in a brown bottle. If you take the tea tree times a day it is a bit pricy. I have a recipe to make it fresh from the dried materials, (cost effective). I have been drinking it for over 1/2 year. It helped a lot with my after radiation/chemo tail/hip pain. I have started to use Canabis oil, and my progress has speed up for the better. I guess I will know how it’s working after my next CTscan. Quality of life has dramatically improved for me.
Rosemary. Go to Google or YouTube and type in Essiac Tea. You find all kinds links that will tell you all about the history and how to make it from scratch. Good Luck!
I’ve received Trinity tea today from Costa Rica. It has ginger, turmeric +Pau d’Arco. Has anyone tried this tea at all?
About a month ago I had a total hysterectomy. It is recommended that I take chemotherapy and radiation. I just had my first chemo on 6/6. There are now some questions about my right breast (mammogram on 6/9). In 2007, I had a lumpectomy on left breast. Any recommendations on foods and are any of these tea better than the other for my condition???
Go to “what causes Cancer” & The Anti Cancer Diet.. U can Google them .. Read for URself so that U have GOOD ADVICE. Toni in Toronto
Look into Chaga tea
You should look at this website also phoenixtears.ca Rick Simpson is his name, you can find him on FB. I’m a stage 4 colon cancer patient. For the past two years I have done all the things pharmaceutical and DR advised stuff.
There is great info on his recommendation, my oncologist did give his OK, I would have done it without anyway. The changes have been unbelievable great, so much so that I only realize now how crappy I felt for a few month.
Anyway, my two cents. I would feel bad if I would not share this.
I send you healing vibrations.
LOVE&LIGHT
I have been using Chaga tea and what a wonderful tea it is, it has taken me many months to learn how to brew it right but the pay off is fantastic, i can highly recommend it for whatever ails you, it has been a miracle for my good health. The Juice Maker
We are new users of Chaga tea and we boil it and let it steep overnight before drinking it. How do you brew it??
Hi Kenneth where can i buy i by Chagall mushroom tea from??
I have prostrate problems: a weak urinary stream, urgency to urinate and reduced male organ function. My prostate is twice as big as normal and my PSA value is twice as high as normal. The doctor recommends to do the biopsy. I am currently in Bob Beck Protocol(Blood Electrifier, Magnetic Pulser, and Colloidal Silver Drink). I want to know more about Chaga tea. Please help me. Thanks. Tera Yoon
dear Tera , you can order sublimated water soluble chaga mushroom extract at http://www.baikal-legend.ru we sell post boxes all over the world. dihydroquercetion will also help you.
Has anyone tried the MSM Vitamin C cancer protcal?
Try melaleuca essential oils. They are are high quality as do terra but less pricey. Email me. Corrine
How often do you drink the tea and where do you purchase it?
Where can one find this tea
In Australia this bark is available from Superfeast.com.au They also have Chaga Mushroom plus other medicinal mushrooms …and Astragalus root powder. Heaps of great info as well.