Cancer
is a major killer in the modern world. As we chase the conveniences of
modern living, the payoff has been an increase in our intake of
processed food and an increase in air pollution. Both of which are
known to contribute to the rise in cancer in the 20th and 21st
centuries.
One of the consequences of our modern day living is pollution.
Pollution of our atmosphere has led to a thinning of the ozone layer,
creating the well-
documented holes. High level ozone is our safety screen against the
effects of harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays from our Sun. The ozone layer
does not cut
these out completely, it is in fact UV rays that create your sun tan.
To much UV can lead to cancer - with the thinning of the ozone layer
more UV now reaches the surface of the Earth and skin cancer is on the
rise. This is a particular problem in the sunny southern hemisphere
countries as the thinning of the ozone is greatest there.
If caught early, skin cancer is often curable. There are several
different ways to help your skin stay safe from the effects of UV but
did you know that green tea may help? Green tea contains antioxidants
(called polyphenols) that are believed to protect against some cancers
by fighting the effects of harmful free radicals. Free radicals are
undesirable chemicals in the body which can damage cell DNA and, as a
result, start the process of turning a cell cancerous.
Researchers in the US have noticed from other reports that regular use
of green tea may well protect against skin cancer. In some of the
studies they have scrutinised, it has been found that green tea taken
orally or applied to the skin has prevented damage from UV. It appears
more beneficial to drink the green tea, however, supplementing this
with external application of teas containing green tea extract may
increase the efficacy of this natural protection. Evidence for the
latter comes from the Archives of Dermatology 2000;136:989-994, 1051 -
mice exposed to a chemical that causes skin cancer were less likely to
develop tumours if they had green tea ointment applied for 1 week prior
to exposure.
