How I Coped Suffering From Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy
Image from Wikimedia

What is Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is named after the Scottish anatomist, Sir Charles Bell. Bell's palsy is associated with facial paralysis of unknown cause. A neurological disorder on one side of the face. In some rare cases it can occur on both sides of the face. Bell's palsy is a disorder affecting nerves that control muscles in the face that become injured or stop working properly.

Bell's palsy is common in people aged 15 to 40 years and make a spontaneous recovery within 3 to 4 weeks. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy include:

• Paralysis on one side of the face.
• A drooping eyebrow and mouth.
• Drooling from one side of the mouth when talking, eating, or drinking.
• Difficulty closing one eyelid, which makes the eyes dry.

Charles Bell
Image from Wikimedia

What are my experiences dealing with Bell's Palsy?

Since 2024 I have been working as a freelance contributor for a daily job. I worked mostly at night and slept in the morning. Most of my clients are at least 8 to 12 hours in a different timezone from mine. I usually went to bed at 3 or 6 AM in the morning and started to work again at 10 or 12 PM.

Tape
Image from Wikimedia

It was last August 21, 2025, when I felt strange on the right side of my face. I remembered that I ate 3 pieces of a very sweet tape, a traditional fermented cassava. It is not the usual tape that I used to eat. It is very sweet and well cooked. That day I went to bed at 4 AM and woke up at 11 AM. When I woke up from bed, my mouth was drooling so much that it wet my pillow. I washed my face in the bathroom, and the water was entering my right eye because I cannot close it. I asked my wife to take me to the clinic near my home.

Arriving at the emergency room, my blood pressure was checked. The nurse only said that my systolic blood pressure was 160, without mentioning what my diastolic was. The nurse asked me to go to see the doctor. Noticing that my systolic blood pressure was 160, she said to me that I had very high blood pressure. The doctor then asked me what I have been eating, what pain I have suffered, and what medication I have used.

I told her that I just ate tape last night. Since I had been suffering from influenza with a dry cough for weeks, I only took methylprednisolone as medication. The doctor argued, Why have you taken methylprednisolone since it is used only for inflammation? The dry cough had made my throat become inflamed, I answered. OK, then, she replied.

She then examined my face. She asked me to look at her pen and where she pointed her pen. Since your blood pressure is high, I'll prescribe some medication for you. But remember not to take methylprednisolone again. You should come back here to check your health in ten days, she said, ending the conversation.

Guess what? The doctor prescribed me a blood-lowering medication, vitamin B complex, and flu medication. All medications are expected to be consumed within ten days, as most are only 1 dose per day.

The flu medication, which consists of 500 mg of paracetamol, is supposed to be consumed 3 times a day. I stopped taking the flu medication on the next day after having 3 times the day before. I continued taking methylprednisolone with an added dose.

Before I had Bell's palsy, I only consumed methylprednisolone once a day. Now I'm having it 4 times a day and using the lower dose of 4 mg. After my blood-lowering medications were all consumed in 10 days, I didn't visit the doctor again. I continued the medication by taking methylprednisolone 4mg 4 times a day.

Methylprednisolone 4mg by Hexpharm Jaya

Why I haven't followed the doctor's orders?

At home, I asked my wife to check my blood pressure once more using my neighbor's digital tensiometer. When my wife checked my blood pressure twice on both my upper arms, it turned out my left arm was 135/96, while my right arm was 143/103. When at the hospital, the nurse checked my blood pressure on my left arm using a manual tensiometer, which is more accurate than a digital one. But the nurse forgot to mention what my diastolic was. She only told me that my systolic blood pressure was 160. I forgot to mention earlier that the doctor also asked me when the last time I checked my blood was and what the number was. I normally have 110/80 for my blood pressure, and it was 2019 the last time I checked during a medical checkup, I answered.

Later on that day, I studied a lot about Bell's palsy through Pubmed portal, my very reliable resources. What I learned from Pubmed's site became references for this article. What I have written here is what made me to not follow the doctor's orders.

Please don't take this as a medical advise, as this is just my point of view!

Personally, I think the doctor seems like just trying to sell me blood-lowering medications that I should consume for the rest of my life. For my consideration, the doctor from my point of view is just the same as a drug dealer.

The main point based on what I have learned from the PubMed website:

• The exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown.
• 85% of people found improvement within 3 weeks and 3 to 5 months in the remaining 15%.
• The inability to close the eyelid could lead to potential eye injury. You may find it hard to close your eyes while taking a shower.
• Possible triggers of Bell's palsy may include:
  • Viral infections, such as herpes or chickenpox. Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 has been detected in up to 50% of cases by some researchers.
  • Low immunity due to stress, sleep deprivation, physical trauma, minor illness, or autoimmune syndromes.
  • Infection or damage to a facial nerve that causes inflammation.
• Not all patients with facial paralysis who enter the health care system have been diagnosed as having Bell's palsy.
• Laboratory or imaging studies are not necessary.
• Physicians should not prescribe oral antiviral therapy alone for patients with new-onset Bell's palsy.
• Physicians may offer electrodiagnostic testing to Bell's palsy patients with complete facial paralysis or both sides of the face.
• Surgery and electrical stimulation to treat facial paralysis are still being studied by scientists.
• Corticosteroids, including methylprednisolone, a drug that can reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system, alone could improve the rate of recovery.

Warning!!!
Please don't take this as a medical advise! The first week was the hardest time for me. I'm still in my recovery for better improvement when I posted this article.

References:

• Bell's Palsy
  https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/bells-palsy?search-term=disorders%20bells%20palsy.
• Axelsson S et al. 2011
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20027713/.
• Baugh RF et al. 2013
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24189771/.
• Holland NJ et al. 2014
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3980711/.

Health Benefits of Honey

Honey

Nutritional Healthy

Honey, a nutritional healthy product, is produced mainly by two types of bees: honey bee and stingless bee, has been recognized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Meanwhile, An essential pollinator of our food crops is the honey bee. Honey bee pollination contributes either directly or indirectly to nearly one-third of our food supply.

Nutritional value per 1 tablespoon (21 g)

Nutrients	Amount	Nutrients	Amount
Water	3.59 g	Calories	64 kcal
Energy	267 kJ	Protein	0.06 g
Ash	0.04 g	Carbohydrate	17.30 g
Sugars	17.25 g	Sucrose	0.19 g
Glucose	7.51 g	Fructose	8.60 g
Maltose	0.30 g	Galactose	0.65 g
Calcium, Ca	1 mg	Iron, Fe	0.09 mg
Phosphorus, P	1 mg	Potassium, K	11 mg
Sodium, Na	1 mg	Zinc, Zn	0.05 mg
Copper, Cu	0.008 mg	Manganese, Mn	0.017 mg
Selenium, Se	0.2 µg	Fluoride, F	1.5 µg
Vitamin C	0.1 mg	Riboflavin	0.008 mg
Niacin	0.025 mg	Pantothenic acid	0.014 mg
Vitamin B6	0.005 mg	Choline	0.5 mg
Betaine	0.4 mg

USDA

Products from honeybees, like honey, propolis, and royal jelly, are not only food but also provide significant health advantages against a variety of illnesses. Honey's possible health advantages are discussed, including its effects on other diseases, wound healing, and microbial suppression.

Numerous health advantages associated with gastrointestinal illnesses, allergies, and issues linked to gynecology, oral health, and dermatology have been described for propolis. The preventive properties of royal jelly on wound healing, aging, neurological diseases, and reproductive health are widely recognized.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese all utilized honey to treat gastric ulcers and other intestinal lesions. Additionally, it has been used to treat earaches, sore throats, and coughs. Lotus honey has been used traditionally to heal eye infections and other ailments since ancient India.

Honey is utilized both externally and internally as a functional food to support the body's vital organs by supplying energy and nutrients. The quality of honey is significantly influenced by its active ingredients, which include organic acids, glucose, fructose, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

Biological Activities of Honey

Honey has long been used to heal burns, wounds, insect bites, skin conditions, boils, and ulcers. Honey's effectiveness as an antibacterial and wound-healing agent is confirmed by scientific evidence of its wound-healing properties. The proteolytic enzyme is dynamically expressed when honey stimulates the wound matrix's latent plasminogen to become active. Plasmin destroys fibrin and causes blood clots to retreat. This enzyme breaks down fibrin clumps in the wound bed that have dead tissues adhering to them.

Clinical data demonstrating honey's efficacy, specificity, and sensitivity in wound treatment shows that honey works better than both traditional and contemporary wound care dressings. Fast healing, wound cleansing, infection removal, tissue regeneration, reduced inflammation, and improved dressing comfort because of less tissue adhesion are among the therapeutic benefits seen following honey administration.

365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Light Amber Wildflower Honey.

Honey also improves the epithelialization of the affected skin surface, which helps to reduce skin deterioration around stomas like ileostomy and colostomy. Honey helps with psoriasis, eczema, and pediatric dermatitis brought on by overuse of diapers and napkins. Researchers looked into how honey combined with beeswax and olive oil affected those who had atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

According to a clinical trial, a honey-based mixture produced notable gains and was incredibly well tolerated. Numerous nitric oxide metabolites found in honey lower the risk of skin infections in people with psoriasis.

Enzymes that aid in the absorption of substances like sugars and starches make up natural honey. Honey contains sugar molecules that are easily absorbed by the body. Honey contains minerals, phytochemicals, and flavonoids that promote digestion.

Honey is utilized in wound management and is useful for patients with locally infected wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, Charcot foot ulcerations, and complex comorbid disorders that have failed hospital treatment. Additionally, the presence of honey results in low damage to the wound bed and great tolerability.

MANUKA DOCTOR - Raw Manuka Honey MGO 30+ SQUEEZY, 100% Pure New Zealand Honey.

Honey can be used to treat a variety of oral disorders, including periodontal disease, stomatitis, and halitosis. Furthermore, it has been used to prevent periodontitis, gingivitis, mouth ulcers, and dental plaque. Honey's antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities can promote granulation tissue formation, which will help damaged cells heal.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
A mucosal infection caused by aberrant stomach reflux into the esophagus or lungs. Acid regurgitation, irritation, and heartburn are signs of GERD. Honey helps with this illness by covering the lining of the stomach and esophagus, which stops food and gastric juice from flowing upward. In order to aid in the regeneration of the sphincter's tissues and ultimately lessen the likelihood of acid reflux, honey might further stimulate them.

Dyspepsia
A chronic condition in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function improperly. It is a condition that manifests as nausea, bloating, heartburn, and epigastric pain.

According to clinical studies, honey enhanced the healing effect and reduced the production of stomach acid. Because of its antimicrobial qualities and preventive effects, honey is therefore consumed as a nutritional supplement.

Gastroenteritis
Often known as stomach or gastric flu, is characterized by inflammation of the digestive tract. Foodborne, waterborne, and person-to-person transmission of infectious pathogens could be the cause of this illness. Gastric pains, bloating, watery diarrhea, dehydration, and nausea are all signs of gastroenteritis.

According to a clinical trial, honey can be used to treat infantile gastroenteritis. Because honey's high sugar content promotes electrolyte and water reabsorption in the gut, the study discovered that substituting honey for the glucose in the usual electrolyte oral rehydration solution shortened the recovery period for gastroenteritis patients.

Nate's 100% Pure, Raw & Unfiltered Honey.

Chronic constipation
A frequent and multifaceted disorder marked by painful defecation (irregular stools and difficult stool passage). Symptoms of difficult stool passage include lumpy or hard stools, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, straining, and a prolonged time to pass stool. A excessive number of bowel movements with watery stool is called diarrhea. Compared to traditional antiviral treatment, honey has reduced the pathophysiology and duration of viral diarrhea.

Honey can relieve pain, normalize hepatic processes, and eliminate poisons. The cause of hepatic system complications is oxidative damage. Honey may help heal damaged livers since it has antioxidant properties. Heart problems and vasomotor dysfunctions brought on by adrenaline can be prevented and treated with natural wild honey.

The use of honey was found to significantly lower the risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Vasoprotective benefits of honey include vasodilation, vascular homeostasis balance, and lipid profile improvements. Honey's flavonoids boost high-density lipoproteins (HDL), inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), improve endothelial activities, diminish platelets' capacity to form clots, and promote coronary vasodilation. (Pasupuleti VR et al. 2017)

100% Pure New Zealand Manuka Honey.

Coconut Water to Prevent Acid Reflux

Vita Coco Organic Coconut Water

Coconut as Folk Medicine

It’s been a while since my last blog post. What drives me to write this post is because in my home in Sukodono District, every 100 meters I go, all I can see is a coffee shop and a wholesale coconut shop.

Coconut is considered to be number two as the miracle trees, because its whole trees are useable, providing food, home, shelter, medicine, utilities, and etc., for millions of people in the world.

Since ancient time, tropical people have used every parts of coconut tree for folk remedies, such as: abscesses, alopecia, amenorrhea, asthma, blenorrhagia, bronchitis, bruises, burns, cachexia, calculus, colds, constipation, cough, debility, dropsy, dysentery, dysmenorrhea, earache, erysipelas, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, hematemesis, hemoptysis, jaundice, menorrhagia, nausea, phthisis, pregnancy, rash, scabies, scurvy, sorethroat, stomach, swelling, syphylis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, venereal diseases, and wounds.

In term of medicine, coconut may also consider as miracle tree, because it reported has many active substances, or bioactive compounds, such as:

• Anthelmintic (a medicine used to destroy parasitic worms).
• Anti-blenorrhagic (an agent used to manage gonorrhoea).
• Anti-inflammatory.
• Antibronchitis (used to treat bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways leading into lungs).
• Antidotal (a medicine taken, or given to counteract a particular poison).
• Antigingivitic (used to treat painful inflammation of the gums).
• Antihypertensives (used to treat hypertension, high blood pressure).
• Antipyretic (used to prevent or reduce fever).
• Antiseptic (an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction).
• Aperient (used to relieve constipation).
• Aphrodisiac (a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior).
• Astringent (a chemical that shrinks, or constricts body tissues).
• Antiepileptic (used to treat epilepsy).
• Bactericidal (a substance which kills bacteria).
• Cardioprotective (protect the heart).
• Cytokinins (anti-cancer compounds).
• Depurative (herbs that are considered to have purifying, and detoxifying effects).
• Diuretic (substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine).
• Febrifugal (as medicine to reduce fever).
• Hemostat (preventing the flow of blood from an open blood vessel by compression of the vessel).
• Kinetin (N6-Furfuryladenine, strong anti-ageing effects on human skin cells).
• Pediculicide (an agent that destroys lice). Another way to get rid of lice naturally, just like I’ve already wrote in my previous post.
• Purgative (a medication that encourages bowel movements).
• Refrigerant (a medication for reducing body heat).
• Stomachic (a medicine that serves to tone the stomach, improving its function and increase appetite).
• Styptic (a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals).
• Suppurative (undergo the formation of pus).
• Vermifuge (an anthelmintic medicine).

Coconut Water to Prevent Acid Reflux

Coconut water contains 95.5% water, 0.1% protein, 0.1% fat, 0.4% ash, and 4.0% carbohydrate. 100g of coconut water contains 105mg Natrium, 312mg Kalium (Potassium), 29mg Calcium, 30mg Magnesium, 0.1mg Ferrum, 0.04mg Copper, 37mg Phosphorus, 24mg Sulfur, and 183mg choline. Coconut water also contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B9.

Research shows that consuming coconut water can help prevent dehydration in children with mild diarrhea. Also that drinking coconut water might lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure, but taking coconut water along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.

Due to coconut water contains high levels of kalium or potassium, a person with kidney problems should also watch more carefully when consuming coconut water.

It was my son, Michael’s regular barber who aged about 60 yrs old told me his story why his barbershop was closed for couple of months. The old man said that he was being treated at an island called Bawean Island, about 135km north of Gresik City, due to suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). He often felt a burning sensation in his chest, known as heartburn, and sour taste in back of his mouth. That’s why the doctor diagnosed him as suffering from GERD.

After several visits to the doctor in the hospital and taking the medicine, the symptoms never recovered. The old man also suffered from shortness of breath, like he had asthma, even though he had never had asthma complaints before. So, he quit visiting the doctor and sought alternative treatment.

Then he ended up in Bawean Island, in a traditional hospitals whose owners do not have health certificates, or any medical degrees. The old man stayed there for a month, and everyday, he used one young coconut to drink its water. The practitioner told him, that he should consult his former doctor to perform more medical checkups after consuming coconut water for a month. .

Why should I?, the old man said to me. I feel much better now. I don’t need to go to the hospital anymore. I never felt heartburn anymore., he added.

Like the old man, I also had GERD when I was young. Smoking and drinking coffee are most likely to be the sources of problems. The doctor once said to me that GERD patients often suffer from irritation of the skin if exposed to alcohol compounds. That was when I suffered from boils in my armpits when using deodorant and itching on my chest when I sprayed perfume directly on my chest. Since that moment, I never use any deodorant or perfume anymore.

Based on the old man story, whenever I had symptoms like heartburn or a sour taste in my mouth, I quickly bought coconut water and drank it without adding any sugar.

Bai Coconut Flavored Water	Taste Nirvana Real Premium Coconut Water

References:

• T Alleyne et al. 2005
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15892382/.
• JWH Yong et al. 2009
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6255029/.
• ZA Zakaria et al. 2006
  https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jpt.2006.516.526.
• P Anurag et al. 2003
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/B:QUAL.0000040363.64356.05.

Does Milk Raise Cancer Risk?

Image from wikimedia.org

Milk, a white colour liquid, which produced by the mammary glands of mammals. Milk is the primary source of nutrition for infant mammals, before they are able to digest other types of food. Early lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to its young, and can reduce the risk of many diseases.

Speaking of colostrum, here's a quote from my previous post:

Is colostrum from cows good for you? Yes, if you are a baby cow…..

Many women think it's not necessary to breastfeed their babies, for at least the first 1½ years. That's why, many children are fat, have allergies, and 'behavior disorders' nowadays. Formula milk will never replace all the substances in a mother’s milk.

Have you wonder why every mammals stops drinking mother's milk at a certain age? It is because by then, their bodies are able to produce itself, its own substances needed for the body, including, hormones, growth factors and other peptides.

Also, have you ever heard a cow gets an osteoporosis? Think again! What does cow eat everyday?

In 2015, according to USDA, world total cows milk production was 491,204 kilo metric tons. While in US alone was 94,480 kilo metric tons. World total cows milk (fluid) consumption was 179,838 kilo metric tons. In US was 26,789 kilo metric tons. And not to mention other diary products, such as, cheese, butter, yoghurt, and ice cream. Most Americans now eat 40% of their calories, in the form of dairy products.

Dairy Products as a Possible Cancers Trigger

A controversial theory singled out dairy products as a possible cancers trigger. Professor Jane Plant, bestselling author of Your Life in Your Hands - Understanding, Preventing and Overcoming Breast Cancer, had made a war against dairy products, started in 1993. Shortly after the doctor told her, that she had only months to live, following her breast cancer recurrences for the 5th time.

Professor Jane Anne Plant CBE FREng FRGS FRSA FRSE FRSM CEng CGeol FIMMM FAEG FGS (1945-2016).

Professor Jane, and her husband, Peter, who is also a Professor of Geology, had been worked together in China. Learning that breast cancer rate in China, was one in 100,000 women, compared to a rate of one in ten, in the UK at that time. She then wondered, "Why don't Chinese women in China get breast cancer?" Turned out, it was Chinese women habits, which made them had a lower risk of breast cancer.

Most Chinese people are vegetarian, and to them dairy products are rich people foods. After a year on a strict vegetarian diet, she was being declared cancer free, and remained free of cancer, for nineteen years, without taking medication.

I now believe that, the link between dairy produce, and breast cancer, is similar to, the link between smoking, and lung cancer. - Professor Jane Plant

But still, not everyone who consumed dairy products everyday, die from cancer, and not everyone who smoked everyday, die from lung cancer. Because everyone has a chance of developing cancer, whether they have family history of cancer, or not.

Cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up living things. Cancer is often thought of as human disease but is actually widespread in most forms of plant and animal life. Tumors have been found in insects, fish, reptiles, birds, fungi, ferns, carrots, spruce, willow, and sugar beets.

Milk Consumption vs. Cancers Risk Study

Reported data of milk consumption habits were obtained by questionnaire, from 3,334 cancer patients, and 1,300 comparable control subjects, at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. As a group, control patients were more likely to report never drinking whole milk. Cancer patients more often reported frequent consumption of whole milk.

The data found that consumption of low fat milk was linked to significant risk reduction for oral, and cervical cancers, but drinking only whole milk was linked to significant risk increases for cancers of the oral cavity, stomach, rectum, lung, and breast. (Mettlin CJ, et al. 1990)

Breast Cancer

Dietary information which based on food frequency questionnaire of 88,691 women was collected from 1980 until May 31, 1996. Among them, there were 3,482 women with incident invasive breast cancer. The study found no association between intake of dairy products, and breast cancer. (Shin MH, et al. 2002)

Recent study among 97 breast cancer patients, and 104 control healthy individuals, in Western Mexico, were analyzed their lifetime consumption of meat and milk. According to the study, high milk consumption increased the breast cancer risk by 7.2 times, whereas the consumption of meat, was not significantly associated with the disease. The study concluded that high consumption of cow's milk was a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. (Galván-Salazar HR, et al. 2015)

Lung Cancer

Cigarette smoking causes most lung cancers. The more cigarettes to smoke per day, and the earlier age of starting to smoke, the greater the risk of getting lung cancer. A prospective case control study, in the west of Sweden, was aimed to investigate the relationship between lung cancer, smoking, and dietary factors.

The study was using the data from the local cancer register, on 308 cases, and 504 controls. The study found no significant risk for males smoking 1-10 cigarettes/day, for less than 20 years. A lower consumption of vegetables was related to a higher risk, both for smokers, and nonsmokers. A higher consumption of milk was related to an increased risk. (Rylander R, et al. 1996)

Ovarian Cancer

Dairy foods and its constituents, lactose and calcium, have been hypothesized to promote ovarian carcinogenesis. Milk is a source of animal fats in the diet, and animal fat intake is associated with ovarian cancer risk.

A case control study of 303 ovarian cancer cases, and 606 age matched nonmalignant disease controls, was performed between 1982 and 1988, at Roswell Park Memorial Institute, in Buffalo, New York. The study suggested that, milk drinking is not a source of ovarian cancer risk independently of its fat content. (Mettlin CJ, et al. 1990)

A case control study in Hawaii, and Los Angeles, California, among 558 ovarian cancer patients, in 1993-1999, and 607 controls, were interviewed regarding their diet. Consumption of all dairy products, all types of milk, low fat milk, but not consumption of whole milk, was significantly inversely related to the odds of ovarian cancer. The study suggested that intake of low fat milk, calcium, or lactose may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. (Goodman MT, et al. 2002)

A prospective population based cohort study of 61,084 women, aged 38-76 years, who were enrolled, in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Diet was assessed, in 1987-1990, with the use of a self administered food frequency questionnaire. During a follow up of 13.5 years, 266 women were diagnosed with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, in which 125 of them had serous ovarian cancer.

The study indicated that high intakes of lactose, and dairy products, particularly milk, are associated with an increased risk of serous ovarian cancer, but no other subtypes of ovarian cancer. (Larsson SC, et al. 2004)

A meta analysis study from 18 case control, and three prospective cohort studies, concluded that prospective cohort studies, but not case control studies, support the hypothesis, that high intakes of dairy foods, and lactose may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. (Larsson SC, et al. 2006)

62,573 postmenopausal women were participating, a self administered questionnaire on dietary habits, and other risk factors for cancer, in the Netherlands. After 11 years of follow up, no association was seen between consumption of milk, yoghurt, cheese, or fermented dairy products, and ovarian cancer risk. The results do not support an association between consumption of dairy products, or lactose intake, and ovarian cancer. (Mommers M, et al. 2006)

A pooled analysis of the primary data from 12 prospective cohort studies was conducted. The study population consisted of 553,217 women, among whom 2,132 epithelial ovarian cases were identified. The study found no associations were observed for intakes of specific dairy foods, or calcium, and ovarian cancer risk. (Genkinger JM, et al. 2006)

Results from epidemiological studies examining the relationship between intake of dairy foods, and breast, or ovarian cancer risk are not consistent. Animal studies have suggested that galactose may be toxic to ovarian cells, but results from epidemiological studies, that have examined ovarian cancer risk, and milk or lactose intakes are mixed. (Rock CL. 2011)

Prostate Cancer

In 1986, 58,279 men aged 55-69 years completed a self administered 150 item food frequency questionnaire. After 6.3 years of follow up, there were 642 prostate cancer cases. Positive trends in risk were found for consumption of cured meat, and milk products. (Schuurman AG, et al. 1999)

A high calcium intake, mainly from dairy products, may increase prostate cancer risk. A cohort study investigated the association between dairy product, calcium intakes, and prostate cancer risk, in the Physicians's Health Study, a cohort of male US physicians.

During 11 years of follow up, the study documented 1,012 incident cases of prostate cancer, among 20,885 men. The study resulted that, men consuming dairy products >600 mg/d, had a 32% higher risk of prostate cancer. The study supported the hypothesis, that dairy products, and calcium are associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer. (Chan JM, et al. 2001)

Multiethnic cohort study, from 1993 to 2002, was aimed to examined 82,483 men who completed a food frequency questionnaire. During a follow up of 8 years, 4,404 total cases of prostate cancer were identified. The study suggested an association between milk consumption, and prostate cancer risk may vary by fat content, particularly for early forms of this cancer. (Park SY, et al. 2007)

Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are! - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Anticancer Drug From Aromatic Herb of Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium	Artemisia annua

Wormwood, perennial aromatic herb, is native to North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) has grooved, and angled stems bear silky, fernlike leaves, and small, drooping, yellow flowers.

Wormwood leaves yield a bluish green volatile oil, which is used to make absinthe, a green alcoholic drink, which has strong and bitter flavor. Absinthe has antihelminthic properties, and may be used medicinally to treat intestinal worms. But, the excessively use of absinthe may have a fatally toxic effect, such as, convulsion and kidney failure.

There are many varieties of wormwood from Artemisia family. Artemisia annua, which is known as sweet wormwood, or Qing Hao (Chinese), has been used for centuries as herb, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to treat malaria, dysentery, and many diseases.

Since the discovery of artemisinin, an active compound isolated from sweet wormwood, in early 1970s, several scientific studies have focused on its anti-parasitic effects. Scientists also studied artemisinin semi-synthetic derivatives, in which include, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), artemether, arteether, and artesunate. The effects of artemisinin has being investigated in diseases, such as, infections, cancers and inflammation.

Starwest Botanicals Organic Wormwood Herb	Nutricost Wormwood Capsules

Some studies have been reported, both in vitro, and in vivo, the anticancer activity of artemisinin, and demonstrated its cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancer cells. Artemisinin had shown its inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth, and anti-angiogenetic activity. A study found that artemisinin, might be used as a potential chemotherapeutic agent, in melanoma (skin cancer) treatment. (Buommino E, et al. 2009)

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, isolated from Artemisia annua, has been shown to possess promising anticancer activities, and induced cancer cell death. A study had shown that, DHA can inhibit proliferation, and induce apoptosis. The result provided evidence for further studies of DHA, as a possible anticancer drug, in the clinical treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. (Lu YY, et al. 2009)

Artemisinin had been shown to kill cancer cells in vitro selectively, and slowed the growth of tumors in rats. A study resulted that artemisinin, and its semi-synthetic analogs, could be inexpensive, and effective cancer agents. (Singh NP, et al. 2004)

While another study found that, artemisinin was a relatively safe compound, and caused no known side effects, even at high oral doses. The study indicated that, artemisinin might be a potent cancer chemoprevention agent. (Lai H, et al. 2006)

Zinc vs. Cancer

Zinc Gluconate 50 mg by Now Foods

Zinc For Human Body

Zinc, an essential mineral in human nutrition, which plays as antioxidants to protect DNA from damage, and assists in its repair. Zinc is also required for producing energy, healing wound, regulating body immune system, and cell metabolism.

Zinc deficiency, due to low dietary intake, may lead to immune dysfunction, impaired growth, diarrhea, infection, neuropathy, loss of appetite, dermatitis, hair loss, bleeding, cold, hypotension, hypothermia, and cancer. Zinc as a dietary intake, could be found in seafoods, meats, nuts, eggs, cheese, grains, cereal, beans, peas, and seeds.

Dietary Intake of Zinc

Below is the tolerable upper intake level for zinc, according to the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine:

• Infants:
  0 to 6 months = 4 mg/d
  6 to 12 months = 4 mg/d
• Children:
  1 to 3 years = 7 mg/d
  4 to 8 years = 12 mg/d
• Both Males/Females, and Pregnancy/Lactation:
  9 to 13 years = 23 mg/d
  14 to 18 years = 34 mg/d
  19 to 70 years and above = 40 mg/d

Dietary intake of zinc, whether from foods or zinc supplements, more than the upper level per day, may increase the risk of nausea, fatigue, kidney failure, urinary tract problems, vomiting, headache, infections, anemia, low HDL cholesterol, low immune function, copper deficiency, and the development of prostate cancer in men. Also, pregnant and lactation women should consult to the doctor, or pharmacist, before taking any zinc supplements.

Zinc in Cancer Prevention Studies

Prostate Cancer

High concentration of zinc, in the prostate suggests that, zinc may play a role in prostate health. A 14 years follow up study among 46,974 U.S. men, from 1986 to 2000, was found 2,901 new cases of prostate cancer, of which 434 cases were diagnosed in advanced stage.

The study found that, dietary intake of zinc supplements up to 100 mg/d, was not associated with prostate cancer risk, but an overdose of zinc may play a role in prostate carcinogenesis. (Leitzmann MF, et al. 2003)

Head and Neck Cancer

Head, and neck cancer is a form of cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat, and lymph nodes, in the neck. A randomized double blind, placebo controlled trial among 144 head, and neck cancer patients, was conducted to determine the efficacy of zinc sulfate supplementation, in reducing radiation induced oral mucositis, and pharyngitis.

The study concluded that, zinc sulfate administered during head, and neck radiation therapy, produced no significant benefit, in relieving radiation induced oral mucositis and pharyngitis with acceptable side effects. (Sangthawan D, et al. 2013)

Colorectal Cancer

In 1988, a double blind randomized trial, in Italy, was started to demonstrate the efficacy of a combination of antioxidant supplement (200 μg selenium, 30 mg zinc, 2 mg vitamin A, 180 mg vitamin C, and 30 mg vitamin E), in reducing the incidence of recurrent adenomas (benign tumor) of the large bowel, among 411 patients, on post polypectomy (surgical removal of a polyp) endoscopic.

All patients were assigned to receive either a supplement, or a placebo, daily for five years. After follow up of four years, in range of 1 to 15 years, the study showed significant effect of antioxidant supplementation, on adenoma recurrence. Since the study used a combination of antioxidant supplement all together, it is difficult to determine the role of zinc, in reducing the risk for colorectal cancer. (Bonelli L, et al. 2013)

Leukemia

Recent study managed to develop zinc sulfide nanoparticles (ZnS NPs), to study their cytotoxicity against the KG-1A (human acute myeloid leukemia) cell line. Cell viability study, and flow cytometric analysis, confirmed the potent cytotoxic effects of ZnS NPs, on cancer cells.

The study found that, ZnS NPs had no toxic effects on normal lymphocytes, at doses up to 50 µg ml, and clarified the mechanism of ZnS NPs, in inducing anticancer activities in vitro. More studies were needed to investigate ZnS NPs application to cancer treatment in vivo. (Dash SK, et al. 2014)

Dayak Punan Merah Healing Technique

Portrait of a Dayak Punan group at the river, Borneo
Image is courtesy of Tropenmuseum

Multi Ethnics Dayak

Dayak or dyak, are the native people of Borneo Island, spreading in three countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. There are many different tribes, or ethnics of dayak, which unrelated to one another, having different languages, and different ways of living.

The main tribes of dayak include, Iban, Ngaju, Bahau, Murut, Kenyah, Kayan and Punan. From those main tribes, they are divided into more than 400 sub tribes. According to the origin of Punan tribe, or commonly known as Punan Bah people, they were descendants of Bua, an etun oa, a supernatural being, who was gifted with special powers. (Ida Nicolaisen, 1976)

Mystical Tribe of Dayak Punan Merah

In this post, I only describe about Dayak Punan Merah, the mystical tribe, who lived in the deep jungle, and isolated from the island. Punan Merah people, are noticed by the red (merah) colour of their feet. They do not even try to civilize, unlike the other tribes, who had already worn clothes. Punan Merah people are known as the guardian of the jungle of Kalimantan, Indonesia.

There are few informations about this mystical tribe in the internet. Its existency is beyond the unknown. Some people of Kalimantan were even never heard about Punan Merah tribe. While other people believed that, the people of Punan Merah tribe possess supranatural powers. Perhaps, it was because their primitive animism beliefs, and their choice of life to isolate themself from others.

Nowadays, the ancient Dayak tradition of Kayau (headhunting) is still performing by several tribes, including Punan Merah tribe. The last seen Kayau tradition was in Sampit Tragedy, a racism chaos between Dayak and Maduranese. Back then, the most famous inland Dayak was known by the name of Panglima Burung (Bird Commander)

Inland Dayak came from mountain and jungle, carried their famous weapon of Mandau Terbang (Flying Mandau). Mandau Terbang could not be seen, when it was used to cut its head target, and vanished along with the head target. Even though the target was between a crowded people, Mandau Terbang never missed its head target.

Punan Merah Chief's Son in Law

The first time I knew about this Punan Merah tribe, was from my new uncle. Why I say new? Because his sister was just married to my grandmother's youngest brother, who was widowed since 2007. I just knew my uncle last week, when her sister introduced him to my family as a paranormal expert.

When you need a cure for any kind of diseases, just ask him! He will be willing to help without any cost., said her sister.

Further more, when I asked my uncle about the reason, why he did not charge for any of his alternative treatments. It was because, what his master had told him. He could only accept any offers, if they were from someone else. Not from the patient himself.

Who was your master?, I said. It was my father in law, a chief of Punan Merah tribe., he answered. I did not even understand to what he just said to me. But later, I learned more from him, that Punan Merah is a Dayak tribe, who was known by the red colour of their feet.

My uncle usually cured diseases due to a black magic spell. Few days before I met him, he said that he just took out a piece of a broken glass, from a man's stomach.

What kind of medications, or herbs did you use?, I said. I'm not using any herbs. I cured using a spirit language. The only herb I used, was when I spat on their faces. You what?, I said to myself in my heart. That is unbelieveable form of alternative medications.

How about when you met with a cancer patient? What media did you use to remove the cancer? Did you use a goat, a chicken, or just throw the cancer into the Earth?, I asked my uncle. For heavy diseases such as cancers, I use an eating egg as a media. Not for an egg that was resulted from chickens mated. It is forbidden to use any living things, or even throw it into the Earth.

My uncle was born in Lumajang, East Java. He worked as an outsource conservationist, for Indonesian Ministry of Public Works. Since birth, he had already gained his sixth sense. He first met his father in law, the Chief of Punan Merah, was in an astral world, after his first Javanese wife past away. The chief asked my uncle to visit him, in the deep jungle of Kalimantan.

My uncle was then married to two daughters of the Chief, and was taught more about supranatural powers of Punan Merah tribe. His wives are now settled in Samarinda and Pontianak. Even though my uncle is a Catholic in belief, but he also had the knowledge of Quran, just like a moslem did, due to his first wife is a moslem.

According to my uncle, for the native Dayak women, to be married to a Javanese man, is considered a noble honour. The religion of Punan Merah people are animism. They are living primitively, and not wearing any clothes. They live by farming, and fishing on the river, where there are many huge fishes, more than enough to feed a man alone.

That is why, the rule of the tribe, is forbid a man to catch fishes, more than the numbers of his whole family members. If he broke the rule, than he must pay a fine to the tribe. Moreover, my uncle said that, Punan Merah tribe is now still at war with seven other Dayak tribes.

Even for a crocodile which bit a man's foot, can be called up from the river, to take responsibility of its action., said my uncle.

Metal Wires Grow in a Woman Stomach

Noorsyaida with metal wires grow in her stomach
Image is courtesy of Suyanto/Surya

In 2008, the news about Noorsyaida, a 40 years old kindergarten teacher in Samarinda, who was suffered of having metal wires grow in her stomach, became famous. Not just in newspapers, local TV news, and even in the internet.

Many people claimed that Noorsyaida was having a disease from a black magic spell. But, a few sceptics also claimed that it was just a hoax. Several doctors also tried to conduct a surgery, to remove several 10 to 20 cm wires, from her stomach. But, shortly after the wires were being removed, they will grow by themselves.

X-Ray image of Noorsyaida's stomach

According to Noorsyaida, the pain of having metal wires grow in her stomach, was started in 1991. Without any signs, metal wires suddenly grow in her stomach.

Back then, every week the wires suddenly dropped by themselves and vanished. About a month later, the wires will grow again. And now, it has been more than six months, but, there are no wires in my stomach, which dropped, or vanished. It is so painfully., said Noorsyaida to a reporter from Tribun Kaltim, in her house, in July 2008.

What Was The Connection of Noorsyaida's Strange Disease With Punan Merah Tribe?

It was my new uncle who said to me, Do you remember about a woman who suffered the pain of having metal wires grow in her stomach., my uncle asked me.

Yes, but it was long time ago. I think that the woman may have been suffered from a black magic spell., I answered. Yes, indeed. The paranormal who cast the black magic spell on her was already dead. That's why, no one could able to cure her. She was cured by my father in law, the Chief of Punan Merah tribe., my uncle replied.

How could she managed to find your father in law?, I asked. She never gave up to find a way to get a cure., my uncle answered.

My uncle did not mention any date, or year, when Noorsyaida was being cured. I then searched further in the internet about this. I only found the 2008 news, and some recent news that was just a copy paste article from the past 2008 news.

My Astral Meeting With The Chief of Punan Merah

I am so curious with my uncle's father in law, what is he looks like? That question suddenly came out of my mind. While I was chatting with my uncle, I was doing an astral projection to the deep jungle of Kalimantan to find my uncle's father in law, the Chief of Punan Merah.

Your father in law seems to be younger than you. I think his age is about 45 years old. His hair is still black, and unlike yours., I said. Yes, he is younger than me physically, but his age is 84 years old., my uncle answered. That is amazing., I replied.

Moreover, in my astral meeting with the Chief of Punan Merah, I was given by the Chief some kind of energy, which laid in my heart, a warm energy. I was blessed by the Chief, when he put his hand in my astral head, at the time I was chatting with him.

Somehow, although the Chief was talking to me using a different language, I could understand everything he said. Infact, when we were doing an astral projection, we could talk telepathicaly using any languages, a form of spirit language.

Moreover, this alternative healing technique of medications, using a spirit language may have benefical to get more informations from the patient's soul, or spirit, about his physical diseases. Afterall, mental health is more important than physic health.

Update July 13, 2023 :

This post is dedicated to my late new uncle, who the medical expert assumed him died due to COVID19.
But, that's not the story!
He died while fighting with another paranormal (who also died in real world), in an astral world. That's the risk of being an expert in paranormal activity.
Rest in peace Uncle Yudo.

Health Benefits of Cincau

Black cincau (black grass jelly)
Image from wikimedia

Cincau, an Indonesian famous ingredient commonly used for beverages, turns out to have many health benefits. Other common names of cincau, include, grass jelly (English), khruea ma noi, chao kuai (Thailand), cao, juju, kepleng (Javanese), camcauh, tahulu (Sundanese), xian cao, hsian tsao (Taiwan).

Cincau is made traditionally by first washing the leaves, finely crushed, and added with warm water. The water soluble is then separated from the leaves, left until it is cold, and turned into a jelly.

It might also simply by soaking the leaves into water, for about five minutes, and then squeeze them. The leaves will stick together like glues. The more sticky means better quality of Cincau leaves.

Moreover, the gel content in cincau, is affected by the altitude. The highest content of the gel is found in the leaves, which are planted at minimum of 2000 meters asl. (Widyaningsih TD, et al. 2012)

According to Kooiman P, 2006, the solubility of such a pure, and highly esterified pectin, from cincau plant cell walls, in cold water, seems to occur only in a restricted number of plant species.

Different varieties of cincau, whether they are derived from the leaves of Mesona palustris, Mesona chinensis, Mesona procumbens, or Cyclea barbata, all them possess the same health benefits.

Cyclea barbata Miers.

Green cincau is made from the leaves of Cyclea barbata, in which is reported to be originated from Silent Valley, Kerala, India. Cyclea barbata is commonly used, as a medicinal plant by Javanese people, for stomach troubles, and as a prophylactic against fever. (Manilal KS, et al. 1985)

Five bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, in which among them, tetrandrine, limacine, thalrugosine, homoaromoline, and cycleapeltine, were extracted from the roots of Cyclea barbata, had demonstrated cytotoxic, and antimalarial activities. (Lin LZ, et al. 1993)

Mesona palustris
Image from sito

Black cincau is made from the leaves of Mesona palustris, or other Mesona family plants. Black cincau has been reported to possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antimutagenic, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory and cancer preventive properties. Black cincau is believed can be used to treat fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, mouth sores, high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease.

Recent study was aimed to demonstrate the immunomodulatory property of a black cincau, in a form of instant tea powder, using Salmonella thypimurium induced mice. The beverage, in which was added with cinnamon and pandan leaves extracts, had the ability to increase interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and immunoglobulin G (IgG), in Salmonella thypimurium induced mice, at dose of 18,2 mg/20 g body weight, and 36,4 mg/20 g body weight. (Widyaningsih TD, et al. 2013)

Black cincau, which is tasteless in nature, is easily found to be sold, whether in a traditional market, or in a supermarket. Even though cincau beverages possess many health benefits, but another ingredients to make cincau beverages more tasty, might be questionable for health.

The use of sugar in a large amount, or artificial sweetener that is used by traditional cincau beverages seller, will make cincau no longer healthier. Even worse, if the seller made his own cincau, by adding the soluble water of the leaves with borax, to make it more gummy, and lasts longer to be sold.

Ding Fong Black Grass Jelly Powder	Nutrijel Jelly Powder Rasa Cincau (Pack of 6)

Related articles:

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• Borax in Food Products
• Danger Threatened in Seafood Dishes
• Formaldehyde Chicken Satay
• Formaldehyde on Food Products
• Healthy Labelled Foods

Tea vs. Cancer

Tea
Image is courtesy of Sentra Informasi IPTEK

Who are in this world who do not know tea? Tea is popular beverages consumed around the world. Black tea is the most common tea beverage consumed in the world, about 75% of the world's tea consumption.

When I think about tea, I remember to my friend, lets called him Andy, who once made a crossword puzzle game, which in Bahasa Indonesia is known as teka teki silang, or TTS. But, he changed the TTS to tanya tanya saja, which means in English as just asking, a humour crossword puzzle game.

Andy made a question which had an answer of five empty boxes, or five letters answer. The question was, when translated in English as: What is the traditional drink of Indonesian people? My other friends, including me were so hard to find the answer. All of my friends answers were claimed by Andy as the wrong answer.

You know what? Andy said that the correct answer is five letters word (which actually the combination of two words) of esteh. The ridiculous answer that made everybody laugh including me, es teh, which in English means ice tea, is not only a common drink for most Indonesian people, but also for all the people around the world.

The data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health is mentioned that, cancer prevalence in Indonesia, in 2012, has reached 4.3 in every 1,000 people. If the Indonesian population is 251,160,124 (CIA Factbook, July 2013 est.), it means that there are more than 1,079,988 cancer patients, in Indonesia, in 2013.

Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze), is known by many common names, such as, enteh (Sundanese), pu erh cha (Chinese), theler(France), teestrauch (German), te (Italy), cha da India (Portugal). Tea is believed to be originated from the north of India (Camellia sinensis var. assamica), and South China (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis).

The varieties of tea, such as, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, and etc, are all harvested from the species of Camellia sinensis [L.] Kuntze, but are processed in different levels of oxidation. Black tea is produced when tea leaves are wilted, bruised, rolled, and fully oxidized. Green tea is made from unwilted leaves that are not oxidized. Oolong tea is made from wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized leaves, creating an intermediate kind of tea. White tea is made from young leaves, or growth buds that have undergone minimal oxidation.

Tea and Cancer Prevention

Tea contains polyphenol compounds, particularly catechins, which are antioxidants and whose biological activities may be relevant to cancer prevention. Catechins are thought to be responsible for the health benefits, that have traditionally been attributed to tea, especially green tea. That is why most studies of tea and cancer prevention have focused on green tea. Black tea, although not as well studied as green tea, has also shown cancer preventive effects, in laboratory models.

Polyphenols in green tea include, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), Epigallocatechin (EGC), Epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), and Epicatechin (EC). But, the most active, and abundant catechin, in green tea is EGCG. Meanwhile, EGCG and ECG have substantial free radical scavenging activity, and may protect cells from DNA damage, caused by reactive oxygen species. Researchers also believe that, polyphenols help kill cancerous cells, and stop them from growing.

Black tea contains much lower concentrations of catechins than green tea. Oolong tea contains a mixture of simple polyphenols, such as catechins, and complex polyphenols. White and green tea contain similar amounts of EGCG, but different amounts of other polyphenols.

Most animal studies on tea have been found to inhibit tumorigenesis at different organ sites, including the skin, lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, pancreas, and mammary gland. But, the results of human studies, both epidemiologic, and clinical studies have been inconclusive.

The inconsistencies in study findings regarding, tea and cancer risk, may be due to variability in tea preparation, tea consumption, the bioavailability of tea compounds (the amounts that can be absorbed by the body), lifestyle differences, and individual genetic differences. That is why, the National Cancer Institute does not recommend for, or against the use of tea, to reduce the risk of any type of cancer.

Several Human Clinical Studies on Cancer

Breast Cancer

A pooled analysis of two prospective cohort studies among 35,004 Japanese women, found that green tea intake was not associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. (Suzuki Y, et al. 2004)

Recent cross sectional study among 191 healthy Japanese American women, suggested that intake of green tea may modify estrogen metabolism, and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Polyphenols in green tea can influence enzymes that metabolize estrogens, known causal factors in breast cancer etiology. (Fuhrman BJ, et al. 2013)

Colorectal Cancer

A prospective cohort study among 58,279 men, and 62,573 women aged 55-69 years, in Netherlands, failed to reveal a protective effect of tea consumption, on the risk of three cancer types studied (colorectal, lung, and breast cancers). (Goldbohm RA, et al. 1996)

A cohort study among 69,710 Chinese women, aged 40 to 70 years, which followed up six years later, suggested that regular consumption of green tea may reduce colorectal cancer risk in women. (Yang G, et al. 2007)

A prospective cohort study of diet and cancer involving more than 60,000 men and women, in Singapore, found that the intake of black tea was not associated with risk of colorectal cancer. (Sun CL, et al. 2007)

Digestive Tract Cancer

A comparative case referent study of 21,128 people aged 40 years and over, in Nagoya, Japan, suggested the potential for protective effect against site specific digestive tract cancer, by consumption of green tea and coffee. (Inoue M, et al. 1998)

A large population based prospective cohort study among 69,310 women, and 1,255 cases of digestive system cancers (stomach, esophagus, colorectal, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder/bile duct cancers) were followed up for 11 years since 2000 until 2011. The study found that regular tea intake, mostly green tea, was associated with reduced risk of all digestive system cancers combined, and women who consumed ≥150 g tea/month (2-3 cups/day) had a 21% reduced risk of digestive system cancers combined. The study concluded that tea consumption was associated with reduced risk of colorectal, stomach, and esophageal cancers, in Chinese women. (Nechuta S, et al. 2012)

Gastric Cancer

A population based, prospective cohort study among 11,902 men, and 14,409 women, aged 40 years or older, in Miyagi Prefecture, in northern Japan, found no association between green tea consumption, and the risk of gastric cancer. (Tsubono Y, et al. 2001)

Follow up study from a pooled analysis of six cohort studies, among 219,080 subjects, in 3,577 cases of gastric cancer, found that green tea may decrease the risk of distal gastric cancer in women. Compared with those drinking less than 1 cup/day, no significant risk reduction for gastric cancer was observed, with increased green tea consumption in men. However, in women, a significantly decreased risk was observed, for those with consumption of 5 cups, or more in a day. (Inoue M, et al. 2009)

Ovarian Cancer

An Australian population based, case control study (1,368 cases and 1,416 controls), found that women who drink green tea, have a lower risk of ovarian cancer, and the study supported for the hypothesis that, tea consumption reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. (Nagle CM, et al. 2010)

Stomach Cancer

A study based on 157 incident cases, and 285 people aged 40-79 years, found no inverse association between green tea consumption and the risk of stomach cancer. (Hoshiyama Y, et al. 2004)

Conclusion:
Despite of the National Cancer Institute recommendation, drinking different types of tea beverages will have different effects in any person. My living grandfather, who aged 89 years old, is always drinking black tea without sugar, twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.

Note:

The main reason why I wrote this article, is because couple of days ago, an anonymous spammer wrote comments (twice) with a link promotion, which lead to an article about green tea. The article claimed a fact that, ...people in green tea consuming countries mainly Japan, and China have very low rates of cancer.....

But, I disagree with the article, because based on Globocan 2008 data, Japan was in the top 46 of the highest cancer rate in men, with the ASR of 247.3 per 100,000 people. China was not listed in the top 50 of Globocan 2008 data.

But, report from Chen W, et al. 2013, the crude incidence rate, in Chinese cancer registration areas, in 2009, was 285.91 per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, a news in August 2010, Chen Zhu, minister of China's Ministry of Health said that, there were about 2.6 million people in China, who suffered cancer annually, in which 1.8 million patients died.

Twinings English Breakfast Tea	Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Gold

References:

Tea and Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/tea

Green tea
University of Maryland Medical Center
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/green-tea (Web Archive 8/24/2014).