The health benefits of coffee have been known for some time. Admittedly a lot of that research has probably been funded by coffee companies. A new study published by the American Association for Cancer Research now suggests coffee may even help reduce the risk of cancer in women.
Previous research has suggested that coffee may help lower the levels of the two hormones implicated in endometrial cancer, namely estrogen and insulin. Endometrial cancer is cancer of the lining of the uterus.
This newly completed study actually started back in 1980, and involved over 60,000 women aged from 34 to 59. The results show that women who consumed 4 or more cups of coffee a day had a 25% lower risk of developing endometrial cancer than those who drank less than 1 cup per day. Tea consumption had no association with the risk of endometrial cancer. Interestingly, drinking decaffeinated coffee suggested an inverse association.
Conclusions: These prospective data suggest that four or more cups of coffee per day are associated with a lower risk of endometrial cancer.
Impact: Drinking of coffee, given its widespread consumption, might be an additional strategy to reduce endometrial cancer risk. However, addition of substantial sugar and cream to coffee could offset any potential benefits. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(12); 2487–95. ©2011 AACR. Read more here.
I don’t know how you feel about drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day? That is a lot of coffee, especially when you can’t drink sugar and cream with it!.
SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(12); 1–9. ©2011 AACR
