Coffee Just Got Better: Study Shows Coffee Aids Colon Cancer Recovery

We’ve told you about the extensive health benefits of coffee consumption. You may sometimes feel like coffee is just a guilty pleasure, but recent research has found yet another benefit, that just might surprise you. Those coffee drinkers, who are also colon cancer patients, no longer have to worry about the effects of savoring a cup (or three) of joe each day. There have been studies to show how coffee consumption lowers the risk of serious diseases like diabetes, Parkinson’s, and cancer. But this study in particular, examines how coffee significantly aids in the recovery process for colon cancer patients, and may even prevent the recurrence of the cancer after treatment. This research, conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, examined just under one thousand patients, all diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer, and all of whom underwent surgery and chemotherapy. This classification of colon cancer indicates that the cancer has invaded the abdominal cavity and nearby lymph nodes, but has not yet invaded the rest of the body. These patients were asked to fill out daily logs of exactly what they ate and drank, and how much they exercised. The results showed that those who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were 42% less likely to have their cancer come back, compared to non-coffee drinkers. The coffee drinkers were also 33% less likely to die of their cancer, or of anything else during the study, as reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. On the other hand, those who consumed other caffeinated drinks, like sodas, did not experience the same positive effects. There were a couple of elements that were not thoroughly considered, though. First, there was a limited sample of those who exclusively drank tea or decaffeinated coffee. Also, people were not asked how they took their coffee—whether black, with sugar, as a latte, etc. The lead on this study, Dr. Charles Fuchs, indicated that this particular study was conducted for two reasons—“colon cancer and diabetes seem to have similar risk factors, and the demand among patients for something they can do to help recover from their cancer.” He hopes that other scientists also conduct their own research, and corroborate his findings. While coffee may not be a miracle drug that completely cures diseases, promising research like this, shows that there are positive effects, and even these small elements can factor into the overall treatment and prevention.