Coffee could Fight Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

More good news for coffee fans. A review on several studies has concluded that moderate consumption of coffee may reduce the risk of chronic disease. In fact, many studies have been conducted on the benefits of coffee for health. The results suggest that coffee can reduce the risk of premature death in women with diabetes, another study suggests that coffee may lower the risk of heart failure or stroke. There is also a study that concluded that coffee can reduce the risk of premature death in people with HIV or hepatitis C. But how reliable are these studies? What if we combine the results of the studu, what conclusions can we get?

To answer these questions, a scientists team led by Dr. Robin Poole from the University of Southhampton in England conducted an analysis on the studies of coffee, the results were published in The BMJ journal. A total of 201 meta-analyzes on observational design studies, and 17 meta-analyzes on clinical trial studies were reviewed.

In general, the team of scientists concluded that coffee consumption has more benefits than losses. Consumption of coffee in moderation, ie as many as 4-5 cups per day or equivalent to 400 mg of caffeine per day, is beneficial to health.

Benefits include reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. In addition, drinking coffee is also associated with a reduced risk of death due to various types of diseases, especially due to heart disease.

Coffee consumption was consistently associated with a lower risk of mortality from all causes of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke in a non-linear relation, with summary estimates indicating largest reduction in relative risk at three cups a day.

Coffee intake could reduce the incidence of colon cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, oral, pharyngeal cancer and melanoma. There are several mechanisms attempting to explain this phenomenon. Coffee contains many bioactive components, including caffeine, cafestol, kahweol, and chlorogenic acid. Some studies indicate that caffeine can prevent oxidative DNA damage, modify the apoptotic response and reverse the cell cycle checkpoint function. Moreover, some researchers have found that cafestol and kahweol are anticarcinogenic.

A study demonstrates that coffee intake can reduce the risk of oral, pharynx cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer endometrial cancer and melanoma. Furthermore, coffee intake could reduce the risk of liver cancer, prostate cancer and endometrial cancer by with an increment of 2 cups of coffee intake.

The team of scientists concluded that coffee is safe for consumption within certain limits, ie about 3-4 cups per day. So, have you been drinking coffee today?