You’re going to want to put on the kettle after learning this good news. Just one cup of green tea a day can not only help you fight cancer, but can reduce insulin resistance, lower blood pressure, and reduce belly fat.

Tea leaves are one of the richest sources of polyphenols known to man, and they are a natural source of anti-oxidants that work hard to mop up harmful free radicals in your body. Certain compounds in green tea known as Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are particularly powerful cancer inhibitors. Why? EGCG works at the cellular level to intervene against various cancers and suppress tumor growth. Green tea’s EGCG benefits are part of the Rath Protocol, which I wrote about it in my book, I Used to Have Cancer.

Of the more than 10 catechin compounds found in tea, EGCG is the most abundant and it accounts for more than 40% of the catechins in green tea leaves. EGCG has also been proven to have the most suppressive effect on cancer. Studies like the one published August 2016 in Nutrients entitled “Suppressive Effects of Tea Catechins on Breast Cancer,” back it up.

Teas are typically classified into three categories based upon the way they are processed:

• Unfermented green tea
• Semi-fermented Oolong tea
• Fully-fermented black tea

According to the aforementioned study, this classification is based on the degree of fermentation, during which catechins are oxidized.

Green Tea and Insulin Resistance

Dr. Eric Berg highlights the connection between cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) and insulin resistance in this short video. He explains that when you’re exposed to cortisol over a long period of time, it’s like being exposed to a high level of insulin over a long period of time. Your body starts developing what’s commonly called insulin resistance. The body’s adrenals are forced to pump more and more cortisol. Unfortunately, that only compounds the problem.

Cortisol is an important hormone and enables us to move quickly to the “fight or flight” reaction needed in emergency situations. However, when we’re expressing excess stress, whether real or imagined, too much cortisol in the body can result in increased depression, anxiety, increased blood pressure, and increased risk of cancer. An increase in belly fat can be an early warning sign that your cortisol levels are too high, for too long.

It’s EGCG, the compound found in green tea, that works to inhibit the enzyme that converts the inactive to the active form of cortisol to the active form of cortisol.

By consistently drinking this inexpensive green tea every day, studies show that you can significantly lower your cortisol levels, decrease your risk of cancer, reduce your levels of depression, lose the belly fat and improve your overall health.

A Word of Caution

It’s important to select organically grown green tea. Nutritionists such as Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, have warned about the importance of finding a quality tea, one that is not contaminated. Gittleman explains that teas from China and India tend to be the most contaminated, as China is the world’s top pesticide user. Japanese teas tend to be better, but since the Fukushima disaster, we must keep radioactive contamination in mind. In general, organic teas will have fewer pesticides, but may be high in fluoride.

One of her top picks includes Pique Tea that delivers up to 12x the antioxidant polyphenols of regular tea. No wonder it’s more potent and powerful than any other tea on the market! Pique Tea is made from the highest quality tea leaves and natural ingredients that are organic, sugar-free, and free of additives. Another reassurance: the company triple screens for pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals.

Related Articles:

Pour Yourself A Cup of Catechins and Slash Your Risk of Cancer

Core Supplements for Fighting Cancer

Resources:

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Ahmad N, Cheng P, Mukhtar H. Cell cycle dysregulation by green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 Aug 28;275(2):328-34. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3297. PMID: 10964666.

Xiang LP, Wang A, Ye JH, Zheng XQ, Polito CA, Lu JL, Li QS, Liang YR. Suppressive Effects of Tea Catechins on Breast Cancer. Nutrients. 2016 Jul 28;8(8):458. doi: 10.3390/nu8080458. PMID: 27483305; PMCID: PMC4997373.

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Lin YH, Wang CC, Lin YH, Chen BH. Preparation of Catechin Nanoemulsion from Oolong Tea Leaf Waste and Its Inhibition of Prostate Cancer Cells DU-145 and Tumors in Mice. Molecules. 2021 May 28;26(11):3260. doi: 10.3390/molecules26113260. PMID: 34071530; PMCID: PMC8198853.

Chacko SM, Thambi PT, Kuttan R, Nishigaki I. Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review. Chin Med. 2010 Apr 6;5:13. doi: 10.1186/1749-8546-5-13. PMID: 20370896; PMCID: PMC2855614.

Huang SF, Horng CT, Hsieh YS, Hsieh YH, Chu SC, Chen PN. Epicatechin-3-gallate reverses TGF-β1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and inhibits cell invasion and protease activities in human lung cancer cells. Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Aug;94:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.05.009. Epub 2016 May 17. PMID: 27224248.