For many people, coffee is a non-negotiable morning must-have. According to the National Coffee Association, coffee is the most popular drink in the U.S., with nearly 195 million Americans drinking coffee at least once a week.
Whether you’re part of the 82% of coffee-drinkers who prepare coffee at home or the 28% who buy it out, you likely prefer your coffee a certain way. Maybe you like it black, with nothing in it. Maybe you’re more of an oat milk latte drinker, and sometimes you’ll ask for vanilla flavoring if you’re in the mood.
Considering that it’s what we consume regularly that impacts health the most, it’s worth thinking about how your coffee habit could be impacting your health long-term, including whether it’s lowering your risk of cancer or raising it. After all, diet and lifestyle habits impact cancer risk by between 30 and 40%.
With that in mind, Parade talked with oncologists about how drinking coffee regularly impacts the risk of cancer. They share one popular coffee add-in that they recommend steering clear of.
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If you drink your coffee black, you already have a habit in place that could be lowering your risk of cancer. “Several studies have suggested that coffee may be associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, especially liver cancer,” says Dr. Avishek Kumar, MD, an oncologist and lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Reserve serving as a flight surgeon.
To this point, a scientific review published in the journal Gastroenterology found that drinking two cups of coffee a day was associated with a 43% reduced risk of liver cancer. That’s pretty major! Another scientific article, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, stated that drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of colon and rectal cancers, breast cancer, endometrial cancer and other cancers.
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The researchers stated that coffee has more than 1,000 compounds, so it’s tricky to pinpoint which compounds are most beneficial, but one theory is that the compounds in coffee help reduce oxidative stress in the body, which in turn lowers the risk of certain types of cancer.
When drinking coffee, Dr. Mark Ashamalla, MD, the chief of radiation oncology at Episcopal Health Services, says that it’s important to be mindful of the temperature. “Very hot beverages may increase the risk of esophageal cancer, likely because repeated thermal injury can damage the lining of the esophagus. So I tell people it is reasonable to let very hot coffee cool a bit before drinking it,” he says.
The Popular Coffee Add-in To Steer Clear Of
While black coffee may lower the risk of cancer, this connection changes as soon as the beverage starts morphing into fancier coffee drinks. “Plain coffee is very different from a large flavored drink loaded with sugar, syrups, whipped cream and processed creamers,” says Dr. Ashamalla.
Both oncologists say that something they wish every coffee drinker would avoid is adding sugary syrups or highly processed creamers to their morning brew. They explain that these ingredients can indirectly increase the risk of cancer because they can contribute to inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance—all of which are risk factors for cancer.
“Obesity and inflammation are both linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including breast, colon, endometrial, pancreatic, liver and kidney cancers. Excess body fat is not just passive tissue. It can affect hormones, insulin levels and inflammatory signals in the body,” Dr. Kumar tells Parade.
To this point, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, having obesity increases the risk of 13 different types of cancer. “One sweet coffee will not cause cancer. But a daily sugar-heavy coffee drink can become part of the long-term pattern that increases cancer risk,” Dr. Kumar adds.
Similarly, both doctors say that highly processed creamers, especially those high in added sugar, artificial trans fats or long lists of additives, can also contribute to inflammation and obesity when consumed every day.
Related: We Asked 3 Oncologists About the Best Breakfast for Cancer Prevention and They All Said the Same Thing
“Hydrogenated oils are mostly known for their heart-health risks, but they are also part of a broader ultra-processed food pattern that can contribute to weight gain, inflammation and poor metabolic health. Those are the pathways that matter when we talk about long-term cancer risk,” Dr. Ashamalla says.
He adds that his rule is simple: If your coffee creamer reads more like a chemistry label than a food label, it probably should not be an everyday habit.
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If you don’t like the taste of black coffee, learning that sugary syrups and processed creamers aren’t great to consume every day can be disappointing. Fortunately, there are healthier ways to sweeten up your coffee.
Both doctors say that cinnamon is one sugar-free way to add flavor to coffee. Scientific research shows that cinnamon can help lower inflammation. Besides this spice, Dr. Ashamalla says that nutmeg and cocoa are also healthier alternatives to add to coffee than sugary syrups or processed creamers.
“Many spices contain plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but the bigger benefit for most people is that they can help reduce the need for sweetened syrups and sugar-heavy creamers,” he explains.
What both oncologists want coffee drinkers to keep in mind is that flavored coffee drinks should be seen as a treat, not an everyday way to consume caffeine. To keep your coffee habit healthy, keep it black and save the flavored coffee drinks for special occasions.
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Sources:
Coffee Tops Americans’ Beverage Choice. National Coffee Association.Donaldson, M. S. (2004). Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet. Nutrition Journal. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-3-19.Dr. Avishek Kumar, MD, oncologist and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve serving as a flight surgeon.Larsson, S. C. and Wolk, A. (2007). Coffee consumption and risk of liver cancer: a meta-analysis.Gastroenterology. 132(5):1740-5.Safe, S., Kothari, J., Hailemariam, A., et al. (2023). Health Benefits of Coffee Consumption for Cancer and Other Diseases and Mechanisms of Action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24(3):2706.Dr. Mark Ashamalla, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Episcopal Health Services.Pati, S., Irfan, W., Jameel, A., et al. (2023). Obesity and Cancer: A Current Overview of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Outcomes, and Management.Cancers. 15(2):485.Obesity and Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pagliari, S., Forcella, M., Lonati, E., et al. (2023). Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl) Bark Extract after In Vitro Digestion Simulation.Foods. 12(3):452.Hence then, the article about oncologists are begging you to stop adding this to your coffee every morning 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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