For a long time the benefits of green tea and its components have been a subject matter of scrutiny with researchers in the medical fraternity. Many studies have pointed out that green tea and its constituents are helpful in providing treatment for various ailments including Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer.

The phytochemicals, chemical substances that are biologically active but not nutritive and antioxidants in green tea work upon growth factors and proteins and act as a prostate medicine to restrict growth of benign and malignant growths alike.

For men, prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer after skin cancer. Benign enlargement of the prostate gland, at its worst, causes various problems with urination and libido. Prostate cancer is a risky matter since it spreads from the origin to distant parts of the body. Moreover, there is no guarantee when a benign condition will take a turn for the worse and develop pre-malignant lesions and ultimately develop malignancy.

Green tea is used now as an herb for prostate enlargement treatment. A study conducted by the UK Tea Council revealed that out of 32 men who already had pre-cancer lesions, only one actually developed prostate cancer after one year of ‘green tea therapy’. On the other hand, nine out of 30 men who were not given green tea developed prostate cancer.

The results indicate that antioxidants in green tea aid in caspase-mediated cell death, a process known in medical circles as apoptosis. It is a natural process of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself. This is basically a cell suicide mechanism that controls overall cell numbers and eliminates cells that threaten survival. In simple language it means that it is the body’s natural process of survival of the fittest cells.

There have been numerous other studies as well that indicate positive affects of green tea on other cancers like breast cancer. At the same time the FDA has at least once restricted a green tea company from advertising the health benefits of green tea for reducing risks of prostate and breast cancer.

The tussle between protagonists of conventional and alternative therapies seems to be a never ending one. There are always be claims, counter claims and accusations hurled at each other till the time alternative remedies are researched properly and funded by the government and private institutions. Till that time, let us admit that alternative remedies will remain poor country cousins waiting for their place in the sun.

Green tea is a harmless drink that has no known side effects if taken in reasonable quantities. If it can provide men with some benefits, there seems to be no harm in including green tea in your regular intake of beverages.