If you’re one of those people who unironically still hangs a “but first, coffee” sign in your house, well, you might be onto something (even if that something isn’t on the cutting edge of interior design trends).
“Studies have associated coffee consumption with a lower risk of certain cancers, particularly liver and endometrial cancer,” Dr. Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope in Newport Beach, Calif, tells Parade. “Coffee contains a variety of natural compounds that researchers are studying for their potential health effects.”
These compounds include cafestrol, chlorogenic acid, kahweol, N-methylpyridinium and quinic acid.
“Research has shown that regular coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of developing several types of cancers. Some studies even suggest that dark roast coffee can decrease breakage in DNA strands, which, if left unrepaired, could lead to cancer,” Dr. Jamie Koprivnikar, M.D., hematologist and oncologist at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center, adds.
Dr. Koprivnikar explains, “The potential cancer-preventive benefits of coffee can be attributed to a synergistic blend of its bioactive compounds, including chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, kahweol, cafestol, and N-methylpyridinium. Chlorogenic acid, a potent antioxidant, works to neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals and reduce inflammation. Quinic acid has been shown to induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. The diterpenes kahweol and cafestol exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties that can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis, and they also stimulate the production of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens. N-methylpyridinium, a compound formed during the roasting process, enhances the body’s own antioxidant defenses. Collectively, these compounds contribute to coffee’s potential anti-cancer effects through a variety of complementary mechanisms.”
Phew!
All that said, a very important component of what makes coffee good for you is how you drink it. Find out what oncologists say is the best habit you can have when it comes to your beloved cup of job.
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What Is the Healthiest Coffee Habit?
You’ll want to keep your coffee black or just with a splash of milk and to avoid super sweet and creamy options, because all that sugar and fat can easily cancel out any potential health benefits and anti-inflammatory properties of the actual java that they’re supposed to enhance.
“If someone enjoys coffee with a little milk, there’s no reason to think it suddenly loses its potential health benefits,” Dr. Tan explains. “The bigger concern is regularly turning coffee into a high-sugar, high-calorie drink.”
This means your beloved blended fraps should probably be only an occasional treat, not a daily fix.
You’ll also want to be mindful of the temperature of your coffee, as well as when and how much of it you’re chugging throughout the day.
“People respond to caffeine differently,” Dr. Tan notes. “Too much can cause anxiety, a rapid heartbeat, digestive symptoms or difficulty sleeping. Coffee can also worsen acid reflux in some people. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those with certain heart rhythm problems or other medical conditions should talk with their healthcare provider. I also recommend letting very hot coffee cool before drinking it, because regularly consuming extremely hot beverages has been associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer.”
You can also drink decaffeinated coffee if you’re concerned about sleep disruptions, jitters or cardiovascular impacts.
“Decaffeinated coffee still contains many of the plant compounds found in regular coffee, and some studies have linked decaf consumption with health benefits as well,” Dr. Tan explains. “That suggests caffeine probably isn’t the whole story. Research on decaf and cancer risk is more limited, but decaf can be a good option for people who enjoy coffee but are sensitive to caffeine.”
Related: A Cardiologist Is Begging You to Brew Your Coffee Using This One Thing
Photo by Jocelyn Morales on Unsplash
Can Drinking Coffee Prevent Cancer?
Try not to get too excited, because correlation and causation aren’t the same thing (and because you’re probably going to freak your poor barista out, and they deal with enough nonsense every day as it is).
Research oncologist Dr. Simran Padam, M.D., APMMC, tells Parade, “There is evidence suggesting that people who regularly drink coffee may have a lower risk of certain cancers, particularly liver and endometrial cancer. The key word, however, is ‘associated.’ We cannot conclude that coffee prevents cancer, and I would not advise someone to start drinking it specifically for that purpose. Still, the findings are interesting and have been reasonably consistent for some cancer types.”
“It’s exciting to see positive news about coffee, especially in contrast to the news about other beverages these days,” Dr. Latonya Riddle-Jones, M.D., M.P.H., assistant director of clinical outreach at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, adds. “But moderation is still important with the consumption of all things. Coffee may be beneficial in reducing risk or time of onset for some cancers, yet harmful or increase the risk of others. We are unsure if these effects are causative or purely by association and most studies have been observational.”
The Oncology Brothers (Dr. Rohit Gosain, M.D. and Dr. Rahul Gosain, M.D., M.B.A.), agree that these findings should be taken with a grain of salt. “Meta-analyses show coffee can lower the risk of several cancers, particularly liver and endometrial cancers. We also see an inverse association with mouth, pharyngeal, and GI-related cancers, including colorectal cancer, as well as prostate cancer and melanoma,” they say. “Drinking more than two cups of unsweetened coffee a day has been linked to lower overall cancer incidence. However, it is crucial to understand that these are associations, not proof of causation. There are many potential confounding effects at play in these types of studies.”
Related: Oncologists Are Begging You To Stop Adding This to Your Coffee Every Morning
How Much Coffee Is Safe To Drink Every Day?
Before you run out and start funneling your local cafe’s house blend like there’s no tomorrow, take a beat.
“For most healthy adults, moderate coffee consumption is generally reasonable,” Dr. Padam advises. “In practice, I tend to think of one or two cups per day as a sensible range, although cup size, brewing strength, and individual tolerance all matter. Total caffeine intake is more useful than simply counting cups. The FDA considers up to approximately 400 milligrams of caffeine per day an amount that is not generally associated with adverse effects in most healthy adults.”
Related: Oncologists Are Begging People to Throw Out This Common Laundry Product
Should We Worry About Acrylamide in Coffee?
Acrylamide is a chemical formed during the roasting process that’s been labeled as a “possible carcinogen to humans.” However, experts say that this isn’t anything to lose sleep over, especially when you put it in the appropriate context.
“We simply do not have enough evidence to say that there should be significant concern with average daily coffee consumption,” Dr. Riddle-Jones says. “We see higher levels of these chemicals in average consumption of French fries. A serving of French fries delivers three to 10 times more acrylamide than a cup of brewed coffee.”
Related: ‘I’m an Oncologist—This Is the Cooking Oil I Always Choose’
What’s a Healthy Alternative to Coffee if You Don’t Love the Taste?
Those bitter beans ain’t for everybody (myself included). If you want a healthy dose of energy and antioxidants but can’t stand the taste of coffee, instead of loading it up with syrups and sugars, you have plenty of other options.
Dr. Riddle-Jones says, “Green tea is a great drink! Studies have shown consistent consumption can cause a modest reduction of bad cholesterol (LDL) and mild blood pressure reduction, cognitive support and anti-inflammatory effects. It may also help with weight loss and its fat-oxidation effects reduce risk most consistently for breast, ovarian, liver, colorectal, skin, prostate and oral cancers.”
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Related: ‘I’m an Oncologist—the One Question I Wish Every Patient Asked Before Treatment Begins’
Sources
Rahul Gosain, M.D., M.B.A., medical director of Wilmot Cancer Institute at Webster and director of Wilmot Cancer Institute Regional Infusion Rohit Gosain, M.D., medical director of hematology and oncology at the Roswell Park Care Network in Southtowns Jamie Koprivnikar, M.D., hematologist and oncologist at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center Simran Padam, M.D., A.P.M.M.C., research oncologist and executive director of medical affairs at Worldwide Clinical Trials Latonya Riddle-Jones, M.D., M.P.H., assistant director of clinical outreach at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the Wayne State University School of Medicine Tingting Tan, M.D., Ph.D., medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope in Newport Beach, Calif.Hence then, the article about 6 oncologists agree this is the coffee habit you should never skip was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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