Medical Coffee Encyclopedia

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Coffee, for Your Health (The Atlantic, June 15th, 2016)
Since coffee first saw popularity, it has been blamed for many ills, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, the World Health Organisation recently released new guidelines, saying that, far from being a risk factor for cancer, regular coffee consumption can actually help to prevent cancer. Having said that, it should be noted that exceptionally hot drinks (over 160 degrees fahrenheit) are still believed to be carcinogenic, and can cause a risk of esophageal cancer.

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Coffee could keep cancer at bay: Consuming drink regularly may prevent certain types of disease such as womb and liver cancer (Daily Mail, June 15th, 2016)
For many years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) have advised that coffee can cause cancer. However, after researching and carrying out studies, and then analysing and reviewing these studies for the past two decades, WHO has recently announced that drinking coffee regularly may prevent actually certain diseases, such as womb and liver cancer. Recent studies and research have found an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and certain types of cancer. Following this announcement, in a surprising move, the cancer research wing of WHO will reverse their previous findings and advice on the dangers of coffee consumption.

For more information on coffee and womb and liver cancer, please click on one of the links below

Coffee lovers rejoice: 4 reasons why coffee is good for your health (Los Angeles Times, April 16th, 2016)
Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, and recent studies are showing that not only is it delicious, and a great way to wake yourself up in the morning, it has some great health benefits too! Recent studies have shown that coffee can help your body's health in four main ways;

Lowering your risk of diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and neurological diseases
Improving liver function, and reducing the risk of cirrhosis
Preventing cancer
Maintaining a healthy weight

A study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published in the American Heart Assn. journal Circulation found that drinking around 4 cups of coffee per day decreases the risk of developing neurological diseases, heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes. The author of the study believes both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee have this benefit, saying, "Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee contains similar amounts of polyphenols, antioxidants, and minerals that may have a beneficial effect.

Regarding liver function, researchers from the UK have recently analysed multiple studies, and drawing from them the conclusion that regular coffee consumption can reduce the risk of cirrhosis by up to 44%.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has also found benefits to regular coffee consumption; on completion of a recent study, they have found that consumption of more than 460mg - or more than 4 cups - of coffee per day may be associated with a significant decrease in risk of cancer recurrence and death in patients with stage III colon cancer. Previous studies also show coffee consumption is associated with a reduction in risk of breast, bladder, and prostate cancer, as well as cancer of the reproductive systems.

The fourth main health benefit of coffee is maintaining a healthy weight. A study from the University of Copenhagen has found that coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

For more information on coffee and cancer, stroke, neurological disease, weight, and liver function, please click on one of the links below.

Drinking up to 4 cups of coffee a day may actually be good for you, studies suggest (CBC News, April 17th, 2016)
Recent studies have shown that drinking coffee every day, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can have some serious health benefits. A study published this month examined more than 5,100 men and women with a diagnoses of colorectal cancer, and around 4,000 men and women who had no history of cancer. The results of the study were that the men and women who drank between one and two cups of coffee per day had a 26% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer than those who drank no coffee. Participants of the study who drank more than two and a half cups of coffee per day reduced their risk of developing the cancer by more than 50%.

The researchers noted that the lowered risk was not affected by the type of coffee drank by the participants. A similar study from Harvard, completed in 2015, and consisted of a sample of more than 200,000 men and women in the health profession, and had more than 30 years of follow up, found that those participants who drank between three and five cups of coffee per day were 15% less likely to die of any cause, compared to those participants who did not drink any coffee. The research also found that the coffee drinking participants had a statistically significantly reduced risk of suffering from stroke, heart disease, and neurological conditions, like Parkinson's disease.

For more information on coffee and specific cancer types, stroke, and Parkinson's disease, please click on one of the links below