If you want 'the full strength of cancer fighting health defence activating ability' this is the drink to go for14:57, 23 May 2026Updated 14:57, 23 May 2026A doctor has shared which everyday drinks and foods can fuel cancer growth. Speaking on Zoe's podcast, a health company founded by Professor Tim Spector, the medical professional also said that there's one powerful drink that can even help prevent the common disease.‌Dr William Li, a world-renowned physician, scientist, speaker, and two-time NYT Bestselling author, explained that coffee, tea and water are three of the most popular drinks in the world. Having confirmed at the start of the episode that genetics is not the "main thing" that determines whether or not we get it, Dr Li said supporting our gut microbiome can help to reduce our risk.‌He said: "I call it the holy trinity. Coffee and tea both contain polyphenols that actually amplify the bodies cancer fighting responses. Tea has catechins.‌"These are polyphenols that cut off the blood supply and to cancer, lowers inflammation, boost the immune system. And even the fibre that's found in tea leaves can feed the gut microbiome.Content cannot be displayed without consent"Coffee has chlorogenic acid. That's the very same substance that’s found in apples that lowers inflammation as well as many other compounds."‌Talking about how the gut microbiome could hold the key to cancer, Jonathan Wolf, ZOE cofounder and CEO, said he's "a very keen tea drinker" and asked if there is a "particular sort of tea" that works best. And it turns out the answer is yes, and the drink is pretty trendy.He revealed that experts have looked at the potency of tea and shared: "If you want the full strength of cancer fighting health defence activating ability, go for matcha."Because matcha are potent green tea leaves. You get the entire thing, you get all the fibre from the leaf itself. And that's what's actually going to help your gut microbiome as well."‌It's not the only benefit of matcha. One study looked at 'The therapeutic potential of matcha tea'. It states: "Matcha is a powdered form of Japanese green tea that has been gaining global popularity recently."Matcha tea has various health benefits, including an enhancing effect on cognitive function, cardio-metabolic health, and anti-tumorogenesis. To date, randomized clinical trials (RCT) showed that matcha decreases stress, slightly enhances attention and memory, and has no effect on mood."Article continues belowConcluding his section on tea and coffee, he stressed that the gut "microbiome is under undiscovered country for cancer prevention" and said that "everybody can do something today to tip the odds and their own favour against cancer."You can watch and listen to the podcast episode, The 3 foods you're eating daily that fuel cancer growth with Dr William Li here.