Coffee for Cancer Prevention?

Coffee has been repeatedly studied for its antioxidant benefits.

Studies have increasingly shown positive results that drinking four cups per day may help reduce cancer risk. However, there have been conflicting results on whether or not coffee is a true health beverage.

The latest research on coffee was published in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute this May. The research was a large, ten year study following over 40,000 men and over 5,000 that had prostate cancer.

Men who consumed six or more cups of coffee had a lower risk for prostate cancer. Researchers noted that the risk rate was not associated with the caffeine in the coffee. Even lower risk rate was shown in those with more lethal prostate cancer. These results are significant and bring to mind the health benefits of coffee. Reduced Alzheimer's riskReduced Parkinson's riskReduced risk for Type 2 DiabetesReduced Heart Disease riskReduced Stroke riskImproved liver health and reduced risk of liver cancerReduced risk of various cancersAntidepressant effectReduces appetite temporarilyIncreased LDL risk (the "bad" cholesterol)Increased acid reflux or GERD riskInterferes with iron absorption, and therefore has a negative impact on those with iron deficiencyHeadachesHypoglycemia and increased stress hormones for someDecreased fertility for those trying to get pregnant
So far, with all the research out there, it's likely that the positives of drinking coffee outweigh the negatives at this point, so it's up to the consumer to decide. Some recommend green tea as an alternative which is known for its high antioxidant potential. Although for some, coffee is one of the highest antioxidant sources in their diets. It is also important to remember not to load up your coffee with cream and sugar.

For me, I will continue to stick with my coffee. How about you?

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6 Easy Ways to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Colorectal cancer kills 950 Americans, 320 Brits, 73 Australians, 175 Canadians and 24 Kiwis on average each week.

An ongoing project that has analyzed and compiled the data from 749 scientific papers to date, has established 6 ways people can reduce their risk of being another bowel cancer statistic.

A few easy dietary and lifestyle changes can make a lot of difference in reducing your risk.

The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research are behind this effort and common sense would dictate that the sooner that these recommendations are put into practice, the greater impact they will have on a person's overall risk.

Reduce body fat, especially around the waist.
Cut back on alcohol consumption.
Eat fiber rich, plant based foods such whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and pulses as the majority of your diet.
Limit red meat intake to no more than 500 grams a week.
Avoid processed meats entirely.
Get adequate exercise.
This is an ongoing effort and there's much more to learn about colon cancer. However, the research to date identifies the above 6 as being simple ways you can reduce your bowel cancer risk.

Personally having two grandparents die of colon cancer, I especially am concerned with reducing my risk as it has also been shown to have hereditary links. While colon cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, it is also believed to be the most preventable.

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