If you’re anything like us, you’re probably drinking coffee and tea on a regular basis. The good news is, both beverages provide their own host of health benefits that you can look forward to! But that of course has a lot of people asking, can coffee and tea guard against different types of cancers?
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can you drink coffee and tea for cancer prevention?
There’s comprehensive research that tells us whether or not coffee and tea can help our bodies fight off free radicals. In short, free radical cells lead to the development of different tumors. Tea in particular contains a high level of antioxidants; a powerful free radical cell fighter! We know that moderate daily consumption of tea and coffee is generally good for your overall health. Together, each of the drinks contain a variety of acids, compounds and stimulating effects for your body.
Caffeine is found in both drinks, thankfully it aids your body in a number of ways. Providing assistance to your cardiovascular system and digestion is just one powerful side effect. We can definitely assert that tea and coffee can be a great addition to an overall healthy routine including diet and regular exercise.
Which type of tea is the most beneficial?
Firstly, you should consume coffee and tea with as little added sugar and calories as possible. However, the variety of tea in particular has an effect on how many healthy compounds are being absorbed into your system. Green and oolong teas have the highest levels of antioxidant-potent, cancer-fighting catechins and polyphenols. This is in no small part thanks to how little they’ve been processed and oxidized.
So you’ve got your fresh cup of green tea, what can it do to help decrease your body’s risk of developing certain types of cancers? Before we proceed, there’s one aspect of cancer that’s very important to consider. Any one person’s risk of developing cancer is more closely tied to genetics, chronic health conditions and of course environmental factors. That being said, coffee and tea can be a positive anti-cancer addition to your regular routine.
In other words, adding just one antioxidant or change to your routine alone won’t do it. Your best bet is to evaluate your level of exercise, diet and health conditions that all play a part in your personal cancer risk. Lastly, a medical professional will be the most knowledgeable person in your corner when looking at cancer risks.
Research on coffee and tea drinking for cancer prevention
If we’re looking at tea and coffee consumption as it relates to cancer risks we find that there is substantial evidence in favor of the two beverages. One study specifically links tea drinking to aiding in protection against environmental carcinogens. One of the leading causes of malignant tumor growth, environmental agents comprise one of the biggest threats to our health. This includes smog, cigarette smoke, some artificial compounds, etc.
Another study examines brain cancer growth with daily coffee and tea consumption. In this case, caffeine in particular is linked to a reduction in the growth of invasive glioblastoma. Heightened coffee consumption, i.e. more than 100ml consumed per day were shown to have a noticeable effect on brain tumor growth reduction. This means coffee and tea are both healthy beverages. They both contain positive compounds to help build and maintain a healthy diet.
When all is said and done, coffee and tea have proven to be strong allies in the prevention of some cancers. You can drink coffee and tea in moderation to promote a healthy lifestyle. Which is your favorite drink?
Make sure you speak to a professional health adviser before making changes to your caffeine consumption. Ask questions about cancer development. Also consider whether or not caffeine affects any health conditions you may have. Hopefully you’ve got another reason to enjoy sipping on a delicious cup of fresh tea or coffee. Check out some of our other information about which teas are the most potent in healthy compounds!