Several recently released studies found that coffee has an array of minor health benefits. This list seems to be growing and according to a new study, drinking coffee can lower a male’s risk of fatal prostate cancer by 60 percent.
These benefits apply to both decaf and caffeinated coffee. Those who drank both types of coffee experienced a decrease in prostate cancer. Kathryn Wilson of the Harvard School of Public Health says, “It’s (coffee) an important source of antioxidants and also has positive effects on glucose metabolism and insulin levels, and its thought that insulin plays a role in the progression of prostate cancer.”
The results came from an ongoing health professional’s follow-up study involving 48,000 men who filled out questionnaires every four years between 1986 and 2006. The participants who drank at least six cups of coffee a day lowered their risk by 60 percent, opposed to who drank one to three cups of coffee a day and lowered their risk by 30 percent. It is important to note that these statistics do not prove coffee directly prevents aggressive prostate cancer, but more a strong correlation between the two.
Other studies have associated moderate coffee drinking with lower risks of Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer and heart disease. If coffee isn’t for you, tea is a great alternative that also has significant health benefits.
While many of these results are preliminary, it should be good news to all the avid coffee drinkers out there!