Coffee has been a major part of many people’s lives for centuries. It’s a way of life that provides the fuel we need to get through our day and gives us an excuse to socialize and spend time with friends and family.
Table Of Contents
−- Coffee and cancer risk
- What do the studies indicate?
- Can coffee raise cancer risk?
- Coffee cancer risk – the good news
- Why do people think that coffee could cause cancer?
- Are there any health benefits of drinking coffee?
- Can you continue to enjoy your morning cup of joe?
- Does coffee cause cancer? Our conclusion
But is coffee really good for you? Or does coffee cause cancer?
Short answer: They decided that there was insufficient evidence to designate coffee as carcinogenic after analyzing over 1,000 research. In reality, several studies revealed no influence of coffee consumption on the development of pancreatic, prostate, or breast cancer.
But despite its long history, many people are confused about whether or not coffee is healthy.
And some people believe that coffee can even cause cancer.
And in 2018, when a California judge ruled that coffee suppliers had to give a cancer advisory along with the coffee, they served under the state’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act.
California court decision about a coffee warning connected to a chemical created during the roasting process (called acrylamide) has sparked consumer concern.
Coffee and cancer risk
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) identified potential connections between bladder cancer and coffee consumption in 1991. The IARC acknowledged, however, that the data used at the time was very poor. More recent findings have indicated that even in the case of bladder cancer, the best evidence available does not indicate that coffee is a cause.
Since 1991, several further studies have been done to investigate whether there is a risk of cancer associated with coffee consumption. Because more people participated in the study, subsequent findings indicate that coffee is highly improbable to cause prostate cancer, breast cancer, or pancreatic cancer.
Coffee has been proven to reduce disease risk in certain cases, especially uterine endometrial and liver cancer. Even in the 1991 research for 20 other cancers, the IARC stated that there was not enough data to draw any conclusions in one direction or another.
What do the studies indicate?
So, is coffee causing cancer? In several clinical trials, participants smoked as well as were heavy coffee drinkers. There is plenty of evidence to demonstrate that smoking is related to cancer. However, the picture is less evident when it comes to the connection between coffee and cancer.
When smoking is excluded from the equation, the answer to the question of whether coffee can cause cancer is a little more nuanced, while current research points to a strong “no.” When the IARC last updated its research analysis, it focused on other aspects of various hot drinks, not just coffee.
One question was the temperature at which coffee, mate, and other beverages were usually consumed. The optimal brewing temperature for coffee is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit or between 90.5 and 96.1 degrees Celsius. However, no one will recommend drinking at this temperature, and in any case, personal tastes differ drastically.
Recent research indicates that drinking beverages at temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius or 149 degrees Fahrenheit can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer in particular. Believe it or not, you can measure the optimal temperature to consume your drink to mitigate the chance of scalds and maximize your enjoyment.
The temperature at which several coffee drinkers enjoy coffee is about 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit. We like to get our coffee on the cool side, but that’s our preference.
Can coffee raise cancer risk?
We are always advised that the diet is, at least to some extent, responsible for the rise in cancer. Cancer is generally believed to be the second leading cause of death worldwide. It was accountable for 9.6 million deaths in 2018 alone.
Tobacco continues to be the largest risk factor, with lung cancer responsible for more than 1.75 million deaths, preceded by stomach, colorectal, breast, liver, and cancer. Other common types of cancers include skin and prostate cancer.
So can coffee raise the risk of these other cancers? Let’s take a closer look at lung cancer to determine the extent to which coffee is a carcinogen.
In the umbrella review published in 2017, initial findings indicate that high levels of coffee intake could be related to lung cancer incidence. However, the findings were somewhat different once the statistics were modified to exclude those who smoked. And for those who have never smoked, the risk of lung cancer has dropped significantly if they drink coffee.
In 2016, the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) working group of the World Health Organization (WHO) assessed whether drinking coffee could cause cancer.
After evaluating more than 1,000 reports, they concluded that there was no conclusive evidence to identify coffee as carcinogenic. Several studies have shown that coffee intake has no impact on developing pancreatic, prostate, and breast cancers.
Coffee cancer risk – the good news
In certain types of cancer, drinking coffee is helpful, reducing rather than raising the risk. Coffee drinkers are less likely to develop, for example, liver, colon, and prostate cancers.
The wider context, however, is a bit unclear. Many of those with the greatest risk reduction for specific types of cancer consumed around 5 to 6 cups of coffee a day. This is more than generally perceived to be beyond the traditional “safe zone.” As with many such studies, the response seems to be, “we need more actual research.”
Why do people think that coffee could cause cancer?
The coffee content that could cause the problem is acrylamide, a chemical generated as a by-product of the roasting process.
What is Acrylamide?
Acrylamide is a chemical used to manufacture materials involved in producing products such as plastics, paper, and adhesives. Some studies have shown that it can be toxic to mice and rats.
It is graded as “reasonably anticipated” to cause human cancer by the National Toxicology Program based on results from animal studies.
How does Acrylamide work?
Acrylamide is a by-product of toasting, roasting, frying, and baking. Acrylamide develops when starchy foods are cooked at temperatures of more than 120 degrees Celsius. It is usually used in French fries, toast, chips (or chips in some parts of the globe), cookies, cereals, cakes, and coffee.
Coffee, however, contains acrylamide if it has been roasted. No coffee is chemical-free, although some companies are working to reduce the volume. Laboratory studies have shown that acrylamide can cause cancer in animals, which could affect humans.
If you are worried, you can reduce your acrylamide intake from coffee by carefully selecting your bean – Arabica beans contain less acrylamide than Robusta. Filtering coffee often results in lower levels of the chemical than using the espresso method to brew a joe cup, and darker roasts have lower concentrations of the chemical than lighter ones.
Are there any health benefits of drinking coffee?
Contrary to what you would believe, if you just read any of the sensationalist articles, coffee might not be one of the “villains” of our diets. Doctors, nutritionists, and scientists are continually improving their knowledge, and more recent findings and research have also revealed that drinking coffee can be advantageous for several conditions.
They include Parkinson’s disease and chronic liver disease. In certain cases, however, individuals are warned against consuming coffee: pregnant women, for example, and those with pre-existing heart conditions.
For many of us, however, having a few cups of coffee daily is pleasant and can be advantageous to our health. Although we think of coffee in terms of caffeine, the world’s favorite coffee beverage is often filled with antioxidants (the “good guys” in our diets). And if you want to keep your weight in check, coffee can be a lifesaver.
That’s before we even proceed on the positive effects of waking us up, keeping us awake, and ensuring that we’re alert. Previous findings have not always considered that most of those who drink lots of coffee are often likely smokers who consume little fresh food or have a sedentary lifestyle.
Can you continue to enjoy your morning cup of joe?
So, what does that signify for those who want a “fine cup of coffee” first thing in the morning or at any other hour of the day? Can we keep enjoying the morning cup of Joe?
Well, as with many other things that taste so good, we’re worried they could be bad for us. The bottom line is, yes, we can—ideally, in moderate amounts.
If you’re curious, moderate means about 2-3 cups of coffee daily for a healthy adult, perhaps four at most. That’s 400 milligrams of caffeine on the outside. And, to rest your mind a little more, the FDA has also recommended that we don’t need to fret too much about the concentrations of acrylamide in coffee.
And if you’re curious what the current situation is about the California decision? You’ll be happy to hear that, as of October 2019, health alerts along with your cup of coffee are no longer considered mandatory in the Sunshine State.
Does coffee cause cancer? Our conclusion
The jury is still out on whether coffee induces cancer beyond all suspicions, but other substances, particularly tobacco, are much more carcinogenic. When a considerable number of studies from the last three decades are contrasted, coffee does not influence your risk of several types of cancer. It may even potentially lower the risk for certain types of disease.
So we don’t know about you, but we’re still going to enjoy our regular servings of coffee. Whether caffeinated, decaffeinated, with or without sugar or cream or both, of course, in moderation.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
