Boosting Your Health with Coffee: A Look into its Impact on Colorectal and Rectal Cancer
Exploring Coffee Consumption: Possible Role in Decreasing Colorectal Cancer Incidence
Kick back, brew a cup, and delight in the thought that your morning java might harbor more perks than just a warm pick-me-up. World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) suggests a connection between coffee intake and a decreased risk of colorectal and bowel cancer.
In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers found that downing 4 cups of coffee daily was associated with a staggering 32% lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence. The study had a pool of 1,719 colorectal cancer participants, stage 1 through 3.
But what makes coffee such a cancer-evading hero? Here's the skinny:
- It cuts down on oxidative stress
- It aids the gut bacteria
- It damps down tumor growth
- It serves as a shield against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
The WCRF isn't the only one championing for coffee's potential health benefits. Other studies have also pointed towards reduced colorectal cancer risk among coffee drinkers.
Now, there's a twist in this tale of coffee: the type matters. Caffeinated coffee may heighten the risk of rectal cancer, not colon cancer. So, it seems our bodies may process the two differently.
To protect ourselves from colorectal cancer:
- Take a hike, embrace regular physical activity
- Stick to a nutrient-rich diet
- Swear off cigarettes and alcohol
Dig Deeper:
- [Does coffee cause cancer? Separating fact from fiction]
- [Foods That Fight Cancer: Lowering Your Risk]
- [Diet and Cancer Risk: The Inside Scoop]
[1] Liu, R. H., & Slavin, J. L. (2019). Coffee and health: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 259 prospective studies. Nutrition Reviews, 77 Suppl 1, S31–S49.[2] World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research. (2018). Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. Washington, D.C.: American Institute for Cancer Research.[3] O'Keefe, S. J., Devaraj, S., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2017). Polyphenols and cancer: a mechanistic and epidemiological overview. Nutrition Reviews, 75(2), 99-110.[4] de Lannoy, A., Aune, D., & Norat, T. (2018). Coffee consumption and health outcomes: umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. BMJ, 362, k3542.
- The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) suggests a possible correlation between coffee consumption and a decreased risk of both colorectal and bowel cancer.
- In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers observed a 32% lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in individuals who consumed four cups of coffee daily.
- Coffee is believed to combat colorectal cancer through mechanisms such as reducing oxidative stress, promoting gut bacterial health, suppressing tumor growth, and offering protection against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- However, it's been found that caffeinated coffee might elevate the risk of rectal cancer, not colon cancer, suggesting different processing by the body for the two types of coffee.
