Casting a doubt on the theory of all things in small doses, the research showed that high consumption of green tea helps to fight the development of cancer.The consumption of at least five daily cups of green tea was found in a ten-year study to reduce the risk of cancers of the blood by 42 per cent and lymph system cancers by 48 per cent.
The health benefits of drinking anti-oxidant rich green tea have been well documented, although they are more commonly associated with lowering the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
The new study, conducted by Tohoku University, analysed the age, gender, lifestyle and health of 40,000 Japanese over a ten-year period for a range of scientific research purposes.
In relation to green tea consumption, Dr Toru Naganuma concluded that drinking the beverage may have a favourable effect "for particular cancers".
Dr Naganuma examined the impact of varying green tea levels on the health of the people taking part in the study in conjunction with examining their diets in the context of alcohol, soybean and fish consumption.
The results showed that the overall risk of cancers of the blood was reduced by 42 per cent among participants who drank five or more daily cups in comparison with those who drank one cup or less a day while the findings were 48 per cent lower in relation to lymph system cancers.
