How a few daily cups of coffee could impact colorectal cancer survival

Coffee has been getting recognition as a serious superfood in recent years. Not only can it improve your day-to-day health by giving you more energy, boosting your metabolism, enhancing your mental performance and improving your physical performance, but it can reduce your risk of serious diseases, like Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and even colorectal cancer…

In fact, past research shows that drinking one to two cups of coffee per day can lower the risk of colorectal cancer by 26 percent. But now a new study is taking coffee’s potential in the fight against colorectal cancer a step further…

This study shows that coffee may do more than just help people prevent colorectal cancer… it may help people survive it.

More coffee means a longer life for people with advanced colorectal cancer

A new study published in the journal JAMA Oncology shows that people with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer who drink coffee may have a better chance of surviving the disease.

The study included 1,171 people being treated for metastatic colorectal cancer. At the start of the study, participants reported their coffee consumption in a dietary questionnaire. Researchers then compared this data with information on the progression of their cancer after treatment.

They found that drinking two to three cups of coffee a day slowed the progression of the cancer and resulted in people living longer overall. Participants who drank more than four cups of coffee per day had even larger gains in these areas. And the benefits applied to both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

Now, as you probably know, metastatic cancer is cancer that has spread… meaning it’s more serious. A previous study showed that drinking coffee can help people with stage 3 colon cancer increase their odds of survival. But the fact that it even works for people with more advanced colon cancer is extremely encouraging.

But the big question is… why does coffee provide cancer protection in the first place?

Researchers believe it’s because coffee contains various compounds that are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some of these compounds have already been shown to be active against cancer.

Should you drink more coffee to curb your colorectal cancer risk?

Before you start chugging coffee to lower your cancer risk or adding coffee to your treatment plan if you already have cancer, I have one caveat…

Researchers were very careful to mention that this was an observational study… which means it can’t prove cause and effect… it can just prove that there’s an association between coffee and cancer risk. That means, at this point, they’re not actively recommending people with colorectal cancer increase their coffee intake. But they are saying that this study is a good indicator that you don’t need to give up coffee when you’re dealing with cancer.

If you already enjoy a couple of cups of coffee per day, keep it up. If you don’t drink coffee, I’m guessing you have a good reason for avoiding it beyond the cancer connection. Maybe it gives you indigestion or makes you feel jittery or whatever. If you aren’t a coffee drinker because it doesn’t agree with you, there’s no need to start drinking it now. There are other ways to keep your cancer risk down, including a healthy diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables and regular exercise. Do what works for you.

Sources:

Coffee associated with improved survival in metastatic colorectal cancer patients — ScienceDaily.

Association of Coffee Intake With Survival in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer — JAMA Oncology.

Should I Drink Coffee to Prevent Colorectal Cancer? — ­Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Health benefits and risks of drinking coffee — Medical News Today.