Drinking two cups a day can 'help ward off ovarian can

July 25, 2009

Good news for tea lovers: Drinking two cups a day can 'help ward off ovarian

cancer'

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Drinking tea can cut the risk of ovarian cancer by up to a third, researchers

have said.

A study found women drinking at least two cups a day of black tea had a 30 per

cent drop in risk.

It is thought antioxidant compounds found in tea – catechins and theanins –

contribute to improved blood vessel function.

The study was carried out in the U.S. with 414 women, half of whom had been

diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

The findings were released in the International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer

before the start of ovarian cancer month in March.

This aims to raise awareness of the disease, of which there are more than 6,600

new cases in the UK each year.

About 4,400 women die each year from the illness, which claims the lives of more

than 85 per cent of patients when found at a late stage. But detection in the

early stages means 95 per cent of sufferers will survive.

Dr Hood, from the industry-backed Tea Advisory Panel, said an earlier

Swedish study involving over 61,000 women made similar findings.

It showed those who drank two or more cups of tea daily had a 46 per cent lower

risk of the disease compared with those who never or seldom drank tea.

Ford, chief executive of The Eve Appeal, which supports patients with

gynaecological cancers, said women should be aware of the signs of ovarian

cancer, especially those over 50.

She said: `Traditionally, early diagnosis was difficult as experts didn't agree

on the symptoms and they are easily mistaken for other, much more common and

less serious conditions.

`But there's been more research, and scientists and doctors have agreed on what

advice to give women.'

It has been previously found that the health benefits of tea are not affected by

adding milk.

Almost 80 per cent of Britons are tea drinkers, getting through an estimated

165million cups every day.

• The Eve Appeal is encouraging everyone to throw a tea party to raise funds.

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