Coffee, cancer, and commonsense

It’s amazing how much time and money the medical community spends debating coffee and tea.

Are they health foods? Are they dangerous? Should you drink them at all?

But research already points to clear benefits…

Regular coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of several cancers, including liver, endometrial, colorectal, and multiple head and neck cancers. There’s even some evidence suggesting it may help reduce breast and ovarian cancer risk!

So, why are we still having this conversation? Is it really that difficult to give patients the green light on these popular beverages?

Brewing up the facts

Instead of accepting the positive research around coffee, the mainstream continuously jumps to wild conclusions.

Case in point: younger people drink coffee. This generation also has rising rates of colorectal and breast cancer. So, coffee must be the problem.

WHAT?!

How about the ultra-processed foods, environmental chemicals, and pharmaceutical drugs these younger generations consume every day? If we’re looking for culprits, maybe start there—not with coffee.

Let’s look at the actual data…

A pooled analysis of 14 studies found that drinking four or more cups of coffee daily was linked to a 17 percent lower risk of head and neck cancer compared to non-drinkers.

Researchers also discovered that regular coffee drinkers experienced lower rates of oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and oral cavity cancer.

And get this…

Another study found that decaf coffee offered similar cancer protection. In fact, these drinkers had an 18 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer—even stronger than the link for caffeinated coffee.

This suggests coffee’s benefits go beyond caffeine…

Let’s cut the nonsense

I don’t drink coffee or tea—they make me jittery. But every time I report on their health benefits, I reconsider trying them.

Both contain polyphenols and other bioactive compounds with anticancer and antioxidant properties. And while researchers continue to pick apart exactly why they’re beneficial (or harmful), the answer is likely tied to factors like:

• Your gut health—and how it interacts with coffee and tea
• How often you drink these beverages—and if you add other ingredients (like cream and sugar)
• Where the beans or leaves come from, how they’re processed and packaged, and whether any additives are included

I mean, the mainstream makes sweeping conclusions about fiber, eggs, cholesterol, and statins based on flimsy research at best. So, why not do the same here—when the science actually supports coffee and tea?

If you enjoy coffee or tea, go ahead and drink up—without guilt, fear, or another ridiculous headline telling you otherwise. Just be sure to skip the cream and sugar.

P.S. To learn about some simple, science-based strategies to prevent and fight cancer, check out my Essential Cancer Protocol. Click here to gain access to this innovative, online learning tool.

Source:

“Coffee and Tea Linked to Reduced Cancer Risk, but the Cup Is Murky.” Medscape, 02/10/2025. (medscape.com/viewarticle/coffee-and-tea-linked-reduced-cancer-risk-cup-murky-2025a10003ca)