Drink up! That daily coffee habit is good for you — again
Reading while you sip today’s second (or third) cup of joe? Keep drinking.
The latest pro-coffee study found that three cups of coffee a day might keep skin cancer away.
The study, recently presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Boston, found that women who drank three cups of coffee a day were 20 per cent less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, “a slow-growing form of skin cancer” than their non-coffee-drinking peers. Men who indulged thrice daily saw a 9 per cent reduction in their cancer risk. Drinking coffee did nothing to reduce the risk of melanoma. So please stick to a daily sunscreen routine.
The secret might be in the caffeine. MSNBC reports that studies in animals have “suggested that caffeine promotes the elimination of skin cells damaged by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.”
[See also: Tips to lighten your coffee shop order]
This is only one of many studies in recent months that have pointed to the health benefits of everyone’s favourite morning stimulant.
Coffee may also reduce your risk of:
Breast Cancer
One study suggests that just two cups a day of what may be “the greatest addiction ever” may lower your risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer. Another study found that five or more cups a day makes a postmenopausal woman 57 per cent less likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer.
Depression
Women who drink coffee regularly have a 20 per cent lower risk of depression than their non-drinking peers. Researchers suggest that the mood-boosting effects increase with every cup, up to six cups a day. (Caffeine plays a role here. Sorry, decaf drinkers.) On the flip side, it should be noted that one of the study’s authors told the New York Times that caffeine has also been linked to anxiety and insomnia.
Alzheimer’s disease
Coffee doesn’t just boost energy levels, it may also boost brain power. Specifically, caffeinated coffee may increase levels of a key protein known as GCSF believed to stall Alzheimer’s. In mice, it’s been found to improve memory.
In this case, researchers found that other sources of caffeine don’t protect against Alzheimer’s the way coffee does. So swapping out your espresso for a Red Bull might not give you the same benefits.
Stroke
Ladies, we have an anti-stroke advantage when we drink just two or more cups of coffee a day. The risk of stroke is decreased by 20 per cent in regular coffee drinkers, regardless of blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Diabetes
The antioxidants in coffee can increase your blood cells’ sensitivity to insulin, thereby helping to regulate blood sugar. One study found that drinking four cups a day might decrease your risk of type-2 diabetes.
However, it’s worth noting that other studies suggest that caffeine can actually decrease insulin sensitivity. Confusing, to be sure. Just remember to drink your joe in moderation.
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