Green tea has been extensively researched with regard its ability to reduce the risk of cancer. Green tea is protective of many forms of cancer, but appears to be particularly beneficial against cancers of the gut. Green tea can reduce the risk of oesophageal cancer, colon cancer, gallbladder cancer and rectal cancer which suggests it works within the gastrointestinal tract at inhibiting the initiation of cancerous cell growths.
Drinking Green Tea
If green tea is beneficial at preventing cancer in the gut, it likely requires the drinking of green tea with meals. Some foods contain carcinogenic substances, or chemicals that can be converted to carcinogens, within the gastrointestinal tract. Inhibiting the interaction of these chemicals with gut tissue by chemically altering them is the likely way that green tea is effective at inhibiting gut cancer. However, green tea in bitter and some do not like the taste.
Green Tea Capsules
If green tea is not to your taste, there are other ways to benefit from the protective effects without having to drink the tea. Green tea capsules are available, and these can be a viable alternative. Research shows that the capsules retain the antioxidant effects of green tea following processing into capsules. Therefore taking green tea supplements instead of green tea, with a meal, makes sense to benefit from the protective effects.
Red Wine?
Green tea is a rich source of catechins, antioxidants that may be responsible for its health promoting effects. However, red wine is also rich in antioxidants, albeit different ones. The good news is that red wine also appears to be beneficial at inhibiting the formation of potentially carcinogenic substances in the gut. In fact this may be one of the ways that red wine protects the health of those who consume it regularly.
Red Wine Capsules
Of course some people may not want to, or be able to drink red wine. As with green tea, capsules are available that contain the antioxidants in red wine. This is often more convenient than drinking wine as concern does not have to be exercised over the alcohol content. Studies show that red wine capsules, usually standardised to contain resveratrol, are effective. However, for some the benefits of green tea and red wine are best enjoyed along with the pleasure of the drinks.
RdB