Good News for Starbucks?

The latest study shows that “coffee-holics” are at 39% less risk to develop head and neck cancer - and the more the better; preferably 4 or more cups per day.
University of Milan researchers Carlotta Galeone, ScD, PhD, and colleagues analyzed nine studies comparing 5,139 people with head and neck cancer to 9,028 people without cancer.  Alcohol consumption and smoking are linked to most head and neck cancers, however, the protective effect of coffee was not diminished in drinkers and smokers.

While a diet including fruits and vegetables has been shown to protect against these head and neck cancers such as oral and pharyngeal cancer, adding an elevated amount of fruits and veggies to caffeinated coffee intake of 4 or more cups per day, did not increase protection from these cancers.  There was not any protection found in laryngeal cancer.

One might wonder if it is the caffeine that is the protective ingredient.  This is unlikely since Galeone and colleagues note that coffee contains more than a thousand chemicals. Some, such as cafestol and kahweol, have anti-cancer properties, however it is not clear whether even they actually protect against cancer in humans. 

Caffeinated tea drinkers do not appear to be protected in any way from cancers no matter how much they drink per day.  The data on decaffeinated coffee is limited and not conclusive as to it’s effect in preventing cancer.

WebMD cites some interesting caffeine facts and myths:

Caffeine Myth No. 1: Caffeine Is Addictive
There is some truth to this one as caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system and regular use of caffeine does cause mild physical dependence.  However if you stop all caffeine intake abruptly, you may have one or more of the following symptoms for a day or two: headache, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, depressed mood and difficulty concentrating.

Caffeine Myth No. 2: Caffeine is Likely to Cause Insomnia
Caffeine consumption in the morning won’t interfere with sleep at night since 75% of it is gone after eight hours.  If you consume caffeine six hours or less before bed time, you may have to count some sheep to help lull you into sleep.  Sensitivity varies from person to person depending on your metabolism and the amount of caffeine you regularly consume.

Caffeine Myth No. 3: Caffeine Increases Risk for Osteoporosis, Heart Disease and Cancer
*Osteoporosis and caffeine. At high levels, caffeine may increase calcium and magnesium loss in urine. But recent studies suggest it does not increase your risk for bone loss, especially if you get enough calcium. You can offset the calcium lost from drinking one cup of coffee by adding just two tablespoons of milk.  Older female adults may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine on calcium metabolism and research shows some links between caffeine and hip fracture risk
*Cardiovascular disease and caffeine. A slight, temporary rise in heart rate and blood pressure is common in those who are sensitive to caffeine. But several large studies do not link caffeine to higher cholesterol, irregular heartbeats, or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
*Cancer and caffeine. Reviews of 13 studies involving 20,000 people revealed no relationship between cancer and caffeine. In fact, caffeine may even have a protective effect against certain cancers.

Caffeine Myth No. 4: Caffeine is Harmful for Women Trying to Get Pregnant

Many studies show no links between low amounts of caffeine (one cup of coffee per day) and any of the following: trouble conceiving, miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth or low birth rate. 

NOTE:   March of Dimes suggests fewer than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, largely because in limited studies, women consuming higher amounts of caffeine had an increased risk for miscarriage.
For the full list of Caffeine Myths and Facts, visit www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts
When it comes to your health, you must be your own best advocate.  We are inundated with information regarding new medical studies and findings and while the information is exciting, the risks must be weighed against the outcome.  As always, seek advice from your health care professional before adopting new medical strategies.
Laura King