So much research has come forward touting the health benefits of coffee. Sometimes it appears a little contradictory. But for the most part, coffee seems to come out on top as a drink that does much more good for you than not. And, though scientists aren’t always sure of the exact mechanism behind the benefits, as is the case with this latest claim, it’s hard to refute the findings.
A team of scientists at the Karolinska Institutet decided to compare the coffee-drinking habits of a subset of women without breast cancer to a group of women with the disease. What they found was interesting.
It turns out that the group of women without breast cancer were regular coffee drinkers, whereas the women with breast cancer — not so much.
Coincidence? The researchers did look at other factors…
They noted that lifestyle factors like exercise, weight, education, family history and the age at which a woman hits menopause also affected the risk of breast cancer. After accounting for these things, the researchers observed that compounds found in coffee protected only against estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer — the type of breast cancer that does not respond to hormonal therapy.
The team was unable to pinpoint which compounds in coffee were responsible for its protective effects. They noted that the type of bean and the preparation of the beverage may affect how well it promotes healthy breasts.
So how much coffee should you drink for these positive benefits?
According to Dr. Michael Cutler, 1-3 cups is considered moderate. The coffee studies that claim to show adverse effects caused by coffee consumption are based on higher quantities.
Beyond drinking coffee for its taste and feel-good effects, it has additionally been shown in plenty of scientific studies to: [1]
- Delay and/or prevent Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease due to its improvement of cognitive function (alertness, concentration, learning, memory and mood).
- Lower the risk of stroke.
- Improve type 2 diabetes.
- Reduce many cancers: Including skin, colorectal, mouth and throat, prostate, liver, endometrial, and breast cancers.
- Improve liver function.
- Reduce tooth loss from periodontal disease.
- Reduce spontaneous DNA strand breaks in the white blood cells of men.
Remember — to keep it healthy, go easy on the cream and sugar.
[1] http://easyhealthoptions.com/for-percolated-perks-drink-this-much-coffee/
