Coffee: Lower cancer risks plus health benefits

WHO study shows lower risk of liver & uterine cancer for coffee drinkers. Diabetes & cardiovascular disease also lower risk. No effect on prostate, breast & pancreatic cancer.

HEALTH

Coffee: Lower cancer risks plus health benefits 

15/06/2016
AFP News agency & others

Recently, 23 scientists from a UN public health agency reviewed over 1,000 scientific studies on the possible cancer-causing properties of coffee.

The agency that carried out the research, is the UN's cancer agency and is known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Scientists found that coffee was unlikely to cause several kinds of cancer including prostate, pancreatic (cancer of the pancreas) and breast cancer.

Coffee was also associated with a lower risk of liver and uterine cancer (cancer of the uterus).

Since 1991, coffee had been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

Evidence gathered since then has suggested that coffee could not be linked to a higher cancer risk.

VERY HOT DRINKS & CANCER OF THE ESOPHAGUS

There is some evidence that drinking coffee or other beverages at temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius -- may cause cancer of the esophagus (gullet).

Furthermore, it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible for cancer.

"Studies in places such as China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey and South America, where tea or mate is traditionally drunk very hot (at about 70 C) found that the risk of oesophageal cancer [cancer of the esophagus] increased with the temperature at which the beverage was drunk," said the IARC.

"Drinking very hot beverages at above 65 C was classified as 'probably' carcinogenic to humans."

In short, water has to be hot to make coffee but one should let the coffee cool down to a comfortable temperature before drinking it. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF COFFEE

Moderate coffee drinking at moderate temperatures is likely to have other health benefits, medical researchers have found.

Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, that often comes with old age, as well as reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's disease may also be health benefits of coffee.

As the health columnist of the Huffington Post suggests "a better place to look for practical dietary advice is the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee" :

"Currently, strong evidence shows that consumption of coffee within the moderate range (3 to 5 cups per day or up to 400 mg/d caffeine) is not associated with increased long-term health risks among healthy individuals. In fact, consistent evidence indicates that coffee consumption is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in healthy adults. Moreover, moderate evidence shows a protective association between coffee/caffeine intake and risk of Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, moderate coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern, along with other healthful behaviors..."

"However, it should be noted that coffee as it is normally consumed can contain added calories from cream, milk, and added sugars. Care should be taken to minimize the amount of calories from added sugars and high-fat dairy or dairy substitutes added to coffee." (see here & here).

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/food-and-drinks/1010853/very-hot-drinks-probably-cause-cancer-un-body

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ayala-laufercahana-md/coffee-and-cancer_b_10589818.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36540417

http://www.wsj.com/articles/world-health-organization-to-drop-coffees-status-as-possible-carcinogen-1465946753

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ayala-laufercahana-md/coffee-and-cancer_b_10589818.html

http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/10-chapter-5/d5-5.asp

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