Slug That Coffee–Beat Cancer

A study released this week in Breast Cancer Research, found that there may be an association between drinking a lot of coffee and lower incidents of one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer. Swedish researchers said the study indicated drinking five or more cups of coffee a day was also marked by a reduction in ER-negative breast cancer.  With the tremendous focus on cancer in our area through programs like Pack the Place in Pink, and the Relay for Life, this is great news.

In The Study

Nearly 6,000 Swedish women between 50 and 74 were involved in the study.  About half the women in the study had breast cancer. The participants filled out questionnaires that assessed health behaviors and characteristics, including exercise routines, family history of breast cancer, coffee consumption, and more. The researchers’ primary discovery was that participants who drank five cups daily had a 33 percent to 57 percent lower risk of the disease compared with those who drank less than one cup a day.

What Kind of Coffee

One of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Per Hal from the Karolinska Institiute in Stockholm said, "We don't know, for example, what specific type of coffee we're talking about here. But what we do know is that the protective effect is quite striking and remains even after adjusting for a lot of other factors that have the potential to play a protective role." So if you've been holding off on that extra cup in the morning, you might want to re-think that idea. Grab more information on the study, with your morning coffee of course.