| By now most of us have heard that green tea has | | | | stomach cancer. |
| been shown to be an effective cancer preventer. | | | | What are the risk factors for stomach cancer? |
| There are numerous studies that have shown green | | | | So, just what does make us have a higher risk of |
| tea's anti-oxidants to have significant power in | | | | developing stomach cancer? There are several risk |
| protecting our health and preventing disease. | | | | factors, and many of them can be controlled. The |
| Much of the research on green tea has been | | | | leading risk factors include:o Smokingo Obesityo Poor |
| performed on laboratory mice, mostly because human | | | | Diet - As mentioned earlier, high levels of salted and |
| trials take years to perform, and because human trials | | | | smoked meat can contribute to stomach cancer. |
| are rife with variables that can make conclusions | | | | Conversely, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has |
| difficult to determine. | | | | been shown to lower your risk of stomach cancer.o |
| However, one study performed in China on stomach | | | | Previous stomach surgery - those who have had |
| cancer, did look at humans and attempted to ascertain | | | | surgery for ulcers and other stomach problems are at |
| whether or not green tea could mitigate their cancer | | | | a higher risk of stomach cancer.o Pernicious anemia |
| risk, particularly in those who had a higher than | | | | suffererso Menetrier Disease suffererso Those with |
| average risk of stomach cancer, due to family history. | | | | Type A bloodo Stomach polypso Family Historyo |
| This study examined 206 people who had recently | | | | Epstein-Barr Viruso Bacterial infections |
| been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and 415 healthy | | | | Mitigating Your Risk |
| participants. The subjects were thoroughly interviewed | | | | We can't control our family history or our blood type, |
| regarding their dietary habits. The participants were | | | | but many of the risk factors for stomach cancer are |
| also screened for their relative susceptibility to | | | | things that we have some control over. As an overall |
| stomach cancer, based on family history and other | | | | way to help prevent cancer, it's important to eat a |
| factors that raise the risk of developing stomach | | | | healthy diet. Lots of fruits and vegetables are critical in |
| cancer. | | | | this part of your cancer prevention regime, because in |
| This study showed a significant reduced risk of | | | | addition to their other healthy qualities, they are loaded |
| stomach cancer in those who were regular green tea | | | | with anti-oxidants, just like green tea. |
| drinkers. The reduced risk was even significant in | | | | Anti-oxidants are known cancer preventers because |
| those participants who would normally have had a | | | | they fight the free radicals created in our bodies as |
| higher than average risk of developing the disease. | | | | we convert food to energy. These free radicals |
| Therefore, the study concluded that green tea may | | | | damage cells and DNA, leading to disease. But, a diet |
| have the ability to mitigate other cancer risk factors. In | | | | rich in anti-oxidants can neutralize these free radicals, |
| particular, green tea was shown to significantly mitigate | | | | preventing their damage. |
| the risk for heavy alcohol drinkers. | | | | So, including fruits and vegetables in your diet can help |
| Stomach cancer is a significant risk in the US. Each | | | | you in several ways. First of all, you'll be getting lots of |
| year, over 22,000 people are diagnosed with the | | | | vitamins and your daily dose of anti-oxidants. However, |
| disease, and over 11,000 will die from it. Two thirds of | | | | fruits and vegetables can also help you keep your |
| those who get stomach cancer each year are over | | | | weight in check, which is also a cancer preventer. |
| the age of 65. | | | | Obesity is a risk factor for stomach, and many other |
| Today, stomach cancer is far less common in the US | | | | forms of cancer. |
| than it once was. Doctors believe this reduction is | | | | You can also mitigate your stomach cancer risk by |
| caused primarily by two things. The first is the more | | | | not smoking. Most people know that smoking causes |
| regular use of anti-biotics to treat infections in children. | | | | lung cancer, but many people don't realize that smoking |
| One particular bacteria, known as H pylori, is a | | | | contributes to the development of many forms of |
| significant contributor to stomach cancer, and | | | | cancer, including stomach cancer. It's also a wise idea |
| anti-biotics can often kill this bacteria in our bodies while | | | | to limit your alcohol intake. Some studies have shown |
| we're still children, before it can cause problems later | | | | an increased risk of stomach cancer among those |
| on. | | | | who drank alcohol in large quantities over a period of |
| The second reason doctors believe we've seen a | | | | years. |
| decrease in stomach cancer is refrigeration. In years | | | | Finally, it's important to keep close tabs on your health |
| past, the only way to keep meat safe for long periods | | | | in general. Visit your doctor regularly for checkups and |
| of time was through salt curing or smoking. It's believed | | | | have routine tests done when recommended. |
| that the nitrates in meats preserved in this manner | | | | And, don't forget to drink some green tea each and |
| contribute to the development of stomach cancer. | | | | every day to give yourself and extra boost of cancer |
| Therefore, the reduction in the amount of salt cured | | | | prevention! |
| and smoked meats in our diet may reduce our risk of | | | | |