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	Thursday 13th December 2001 Benefits Of Green Tea A new study has found that green tea halts the growth of new oral cancer cells and breaks down and kills existing oral cancer cells, reports the Academy of General Dentistry. Eric Z Shapira, spokesperson for the Academy said that because the mouth is an oxygen-rich environment connecting to many blood vessels, it is an ideal habititat for oral cancer cells. When green tea enters the mouth, the antioxidants (polyphenols) in it work to remove the free radicals or oxidants and prevent gene mutations. Also, the polyphenols in green tea can kill cancerous cells without harming normal cells and inhibiting their growth. The researchers from the Medical College of Georgia found that green tea polyphenols cause the destruction of cells in many types of tumour cells, including oral cancer cells, and they also induce a mechanism in normal cells for their survival, says the Academy of General Dentistry. Lead researcher Stephen Hsu said that in order to benefit from green tea, the mouth's mucous lining must be exposed to 4 to 6 cups of green tea a day, but the tea does not have to be swallowed and can just be swished around the mouth.