It’s probably not shocking to say that caffeine is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. While most people don’t think of it as a drug, there’s no denying that it’s terribly addictive, widely used, and that withdrawal from it can be quite painful. But that’s not to say that it’s all bad. While caffeine often gets a bad rap, coffee itself can be quite beneficial.
Some of coffee’s benefits include protection against developing a variety of illnesses, from heart disease to various types of cancer. In fact, the more coffee people drink the stronger those effects are, with those drinking more than three cups of coffee a day showing the best results. And those results aren’t just limited to those drinking coffee, as the effects also show up among those drinking decaffeinated coffee.
Now scientists have decided to determine whether or not coffee can help protect against specific types of cancer. Among those are prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of death among adult men. Research on mice has indicated that certain compounds within coffee could help slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. Those compounds, kahweol acetate and cafestol, cut the growth rate of tumors nearly in half.
Once again, as with many studies of this type the findings only apply to mice. There still need to be more significant studies and particularly in vivo studies in human beings before these findings can be translated into effective action to be undertaken for people. But all indicators so far are that coffee can be quite beneficial in combating cancer.
So if you’re worried about your coffee habit, there’s probably nothing to be too concerned about. As with everything, consumption in moderation is probably not harmful. And a few cups of java every day could very well prevent the development of cancers that would otherwise grow out of control and do you harm.